Photinias are attractive, evergreen shrubs and small trees that make good specimen plants. Some varieties also make good hedging plants. Their name derives from the Greek word photeinos, which means shiny - they often have glossy leaves.
Photinia villosa is a deciduous shrub that can grow into a small tree with a bushy crown. Its branches become more pendulous with age, giving it a weeping habit. Young leaves emerge bronze in spring, darkening to dark green and eventually orange-red, before falling in autumn. Pretty white flowers appear in spring, followed by glossy red berries.
Grow Photinia villosa in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Prune in winter to maintain its shape.
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Photinia and wildlife
Photinia has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
