Photinia serratifolia Pink Crispy

Photinia serratifolia 'Pink Crispy' is a rare and amazing bush. This recent Dutch creation surprises with its dentate foliage, which is variegated with light green and dark green on a cream background. In spring, the spectacle of its bright pink young shoots makes it a unique plant, resembling a living and colourful painting. This compact and well-branched variety hides shiny red branches under its evergreen foliage. Perfectly hardy, it is also immune to diseases. Superb as a standalone plant or planted in a mixed hedge, this marvel also thrives in a large container, in well-drained and fertile soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Photinia serratifolia, also known as Photinia serrulata, is a small tree or large bush commonly called Chinese Photinia or Chinese Hawthorn. As its name suggests, it is native to China and Japan, and belongs to the Rosaceae family. The 'Pink Crispy' variety, from which it originates, has exceptionally decorative foliage, and a more compact and upright habit than its ancestor. It measures approximately 1.75m (5.7 ft) in height, with a spread of 1 m (3.3 ft). Its large, ovate, strongly dentate, leathery and glossy leaves are cream-white, all splashed with light green and very dark green highlights. In spring, large red buds open into small bright pink leaves at the tips of the red branches, as beautiful as a flowering.  

Easy to cultivate and tolerant of drought once established, the 'Pink Crispy' Photinia thrives in deep, light soil without too much limestone, as well as in sunny or partially shaded exposure. It can be planted in a group of trees or bushes, alongside a Pseudowintera colorata, an Andromeda in acid soil, or a Viburnum, bay laurel or a Portugal laurel in more calcareous soil. With its dense habit and magnificent foliage, it is also perfectly suited for medium-sized hedge formation, to create a beautiful green screen or to hide a view. For a hedge planting, respect a planting distance between each plant of 1 m (3.3 ft). It is possible to create a mixed hedge with splendid colourful foliage, flowers and berries, by combining it with a Metake Bamboo, a Firethorn, an Escallonia, a Cherry Laurel, Ceanothus, Skimmia, or other varieties of Photinias. 'Pink Crispy' will be a focal point on a terrace or balcony, planted in a large pot or container.

Photinias tolerate pruning well; they can also be shaped into cones, columns, balls, and more.

The genus name Photinia is derived from the Greek word photeinos, meaning bright or luminous, in relation to their glossy foliage. The specific epithet serratifolia comes from the Latin words serrula, meaning small saw, and folia, meaning leaf, in reference to the leaves of this Chinese Photinia, bordered by short and acute teeth.