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Long a traditional hedge shrub in the American South, red tip (Photinea x fraseri), also called red top, has distinctive foliage that is bright red when young. As it matures it passes through shades of reddish-copper eventually maturing to a rich dark green. The glossy leaves are finely serrated and arranged alternately on the stem. They are 3 in (7.6 cm) to 5.5 in (cm) inches in length and 1.5-2 in (3.1-5.1 cm) wide. The shrub typically grows 10-12 ft (3.1-3.7 m) in height but may reach 15 ft (4.6 m) if the situation is to its liking. Small white flowers appear in spring arranged in flat-domed, 5-7 in (12.7-17.8 cm) diameter clusters. They have an odor of hawthorne, which some people find objectionable. Nonetheless, they are handsome and contrast nicely with the new bronzy-red young leaves (as the flowers open, the leaves turn green). The red tip (P. x fraseri) is a hybrid. It resembles a supersized version of one of its parents, the Japanese photinia (P. glabra) which is smaller in stature and leaf size. Japanese photinia blooms later in the season and forms red berries that ripen to black while red tip only occassionally produces a few red berries. The other parent is Chinese photinia (P. serrulata) which grows taller and has more leathery leaves that are bronze when young.
This is a hybrid species whose parents are native to Japan (P. glabra) and China (P. serrulata). Once widely used as a landscape plant in the southern United States but usage is now in decline due to disease. Culture
Usage
The striking red coloration of abundant new foliage is redtip's claim to fame. A large healthy specimen in springtime when tipped in red is as impressive as many other shrubs in full bloom. Shortly after I moved to Florida I encountered my first redtip and immediately fell in love. It was just after the holidays and I was impressed by the shrub's bright red buds. Against the rich green foliage they resembled the old fashioned (one-goes-out-they-all-go-out) Christmas tree lights. I was totally enchanted by this colorful creature and it was everywhere! Hedges, clipped and unclipped, outlined playgrounds and parking lots and backyards and boulevards. Then in the mid-eighties the redtips began to die en masse (see Warning). As a result red tip is no longer recommended for use in the southern US although it is still a desirable plant elsewhere in Zone 8.
Jack Scheper 08/15/97, updated 3/30/02, 4/25/04, 4/11/05
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WARNING: This shrub is subject to entomosporium leaf spot, a fungus, which must be controlled or it will cause gradual thinning, defoliation, and death of the plant. Spray with fungicide at first sign of infestation and at 7-day intervals as long as signs of disease are present. Better yet, avoid planting this shrub in areas where it is affected. Because this devastating disease has become so widespread, some garden centers in affected parts of the southeastern United States are not selling this photinia. 
