Photinia Fraseri Little Red Robin
Photinia Fraseri Little Red Robin, I planted the standard form of this delightful plant in Robert and Dawns garden two years ago
I help out in their Aberdeen garden, giving advice and a little practical help. We live at the very edge of the city beside the River Dee and in Winter the frost is more severe than the west end location of Robert and Dawns. I will post pictures of their garden from time to time as they would be the first to admit to quite a transformation since I started to help out along with Myra.
Fraseri is a dwarf form of Red Robin, not simply shorter but the leaves are also smaller giving an in proportion look to the plant.
The young foliage in Spring is a perfect deep shade of red, not garish at all, developing in mid summer to glossy green. Well so they say, the standard specimen which I planted retains a lot of the red hue also in Summer, Autumn and Winter, in a very healthy looking manner.
In our own garden we have tried the original Photinia Red Robin, which always looked like it was struggling to get through the Winter, it did survive but I think it would do a little better in our woodland area.
The dwarf form Fraseri in the bush form grows to a height of just one metre. Pruning throughout the growing season will encourage the growth of fresh young red leaves. In the North east plant in a sunny sheltered spot where it has some protection from cold winds. Ensure that the soil is free draining.
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Here is a few photographs taken last week on a visit to Aberdeens Winter Gardens in the Duthie Park. The land which is now the Duthie Park was gifted to Aberdeen by Miss Elizabeth Duthie in 1880 to honour the memories of her uncles and brothers. The present Winter gardens opened in 1970 and is said to be one of the largest covered gardens in Europe. It was decided that the park itself requires extensive restoration work which will return it to the full glory of Victorian times. The cost of this is set at a little over five million pounds. An application for lottery cash was submitted in April of 2010. Confirmation was received in December that the request had been successful, the hoped for amount of 2.5 million was awarded and the council were to find the rest of the cash. Well, well, what would one expect, the council at the moment are unable after all to find the money.
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The very impressive Cactus house is most definitely worth a visit.
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Here my seven year old grandson enjoys his favourite spot in the Winter Gardens throwing as many coins as he can acquire into the water for good luck.
That is one very large frog, which disappears under the water then re-emerges in a minute or so much to the delight of the children.
If you happen to leave a comment I will be sure to visit your site and do the same
I suppose we have to admit that things are tough at the moment Carolyn, they are probably hoping that some entrepreneur will step in to save the day.
The plant and the conservatories are both beautiful. Too bad about the money. What poor planning.
Enjoy your visit Bonnie, take a sweater with you, we can have every season in one day even in Summer.
I found your blog while blog surphing. I will be travelling to Scotland in 2 months, my first overseas trip. We are spending 2 days in Aberdeen for family history research. Wintergarden looks like a nice place to visit if we happen to encounter a rainy day. Thanks for the pictures.
Myra says, tell b-a-g your hair is the same.
I agree Holley, I wasn’t quite so impressed until I saw this particular variety.
Hi Mark-Gaz, I was at one time under the impression that Photinia was quite a tender plant.
It’s such a reliable plant Alistair, and I love the spring flush!
And impressive succulent collection too at Duthie Park, the giant Euphorbias look great!
I don’t care for photinias, but I think I would like the dwarf kind. Didn’t realize they existed. I’ll have to start looking for one. Love it as a standard! That frog is so cute – I bet they get a lot of money from the children throwing coins in at it!
Alistair – The Red Robin (with your signature pruning?) is spectacular . The Winter Gardens remind me of Kew (my favourite day-out in London).
alistair said, yes Donna and it all becomes becomes even more lush by early Summer.
what a beautiful garden to have so close…the cactus garden reminds me of the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, AZ…I think I would spend so much time there…
Thanks for the visit Donna, temperature is expected to reach 63f in Aberdeen today, just going out to make the best of it.
T hats a pity Esther, these things are sent to try us.
Oh. I have a dwarf red robin. Unfortunately not a standard . . . where has it gone? Unfortunately not existing. Dead. Gone. Planted last year. Short life. (Suspect the ground not deep enough.) The one in the photo is an inspiration.
I can see greenhouses won’t be a council’s priority at present but these winter gardens look wonderful. I can smell the atmosphere through the photos. I hope they can be preserved.
Esther
That was a very nice gift by Miss Elizabeth. So nice of you to take us along. I see how that frog would amuse he kids, it is rather cute.