Photinia fraseri Nana - Christmas Berry

Photinia 'Nana' is a dwarf form of the famous Photinia 'Red Robin', used in hedges. Tolerating repeated pruning well, compact, slower growing than 'Red Robin', and easy to grow, it is appreciated for its young leaves beautifully coloured red in spring, which contrast pleasantly with the mature leaves of a shiny dark green.

Photinia 'Nana' combines qualities, both ornamental and cultural. First of all, it is one of the few evergreen bushes offering young foliage strongly coloured red. Then, its good tolerance to repeated pruning, which promotes the appearance of bright red shoots, as well as the density of its vegetation, perfect for quickly forming a low, colourful hedge throughout the year. But when left unpruned, 'Nana' truly shines: dressed in red and green in spring and autumn if you prune after flowering, it provides a fragrant spring flowering, with frothy umbels of cream-white-pink, very pleasant. So many reasons to plant it in an informal, evergreen or mixed hedge, associated with other equally easy-to-grow shrubs!

The Fraser Photinia is an old horticultural creation born in 1940 in the United States. It is the result of cross-breeding between Photinia glabra, native to Japan, and Photinia serrulata, native to China. This hybrid has given rise to some famous cultivars, including the New Zealand 'Red Robin', widely planted in our parks and gardens and on highway embankments.

Reaching an average height of 1 to 2m (3 to 7ft) with a spread of 1 to 1.5m, Photinia 'Nana' has a compact habit and shows moderate growth. Its well-branched vegetation is adorned with evergreen foliage all year round, consisting of tough and glossy leaves. Arranged alternately on the branches, they are about 6-8cm (2-3in) long and 4cm (2in) wide, finely toothed at the edges. Their colour changes from bright red to bright green and dark green in summer. In May-June, clusters of small, somewhat uncertain white flowers appear, reaching 15cm (6in) in diameter, mostly at the ends of the branches. Rich in nectar, they are highly visited by bees.