Photinia a colorful, hearty shrub for the metro area
Q: A couple of doors down from ours, in the front yard, our neighbor has a large bush, at least 10 feet across and 8 foot tall oval-shaped globe, growing in their yard. We’ve never really put much attention to it until lately. Now it is the most vivid color red! Do you maybe know what type of bush this is? — N.N., Albuquerque
A: I really enjoy it when a plant that has been around for years is all of a sudden in its glory. If you take the time, you’ll notice lots of these red-copper colored plants showing up all over the metro area right now.
I’m confident that the plant you’re asking about is Photinia. Photinia fraseri to be certain.
This easy to grow shrub for this area has been a staple in landscaping for a long time and like you’ve mentioned, it is large.
Right now wearing the red-copper color of spring it doesn’t look like an evergreen, but as the season advances and the foliage matures the Photinia leaves change to glossy dark green color. This variety of Photinia can become quite large, 10 to 15 feet across, just wider than tall.
This Photinia offers another visual as the growing season advances by offering clusters of bright white, fairly small flowers. I’ve never cared for the scent, but they are good fodder for pollinating insects. You’ll easily see lots of butterflies and bees hovering around a Photinia in bloom.
Birds like to find shelter amongst the stoutness of a healthy Photinia too. Photinia take easily to pruning, which makes them a great choice for hedging, and in the “Sunset Western Garden” book they are listed as a good plant to create wind breaks.
I have no idea as to why the majority of Photinia in our area are putting on such a show this year. The weather must have been perfect last fall through the winter months to trigger such color. But colorful they are. Like you mentioned, you never pay much attention to the neighbor’s shrub, but since it is exploding in so much color, you can’t help but notice it right now.
Photinia fraseri are considered moderate to fast growers and aren’t very demanding about water either. Now, that doesn’t mean you can plant and forget, just that you won’t have to spoil it with constant water.
They can withstand quite a bit of direct sun, and don’t seem to be pestered by many bugs or diseases either. Just remember that the nature of this variety of Photinia is big. If you’re looking for an evergreen that won’t take up much room, I don’t think this is the one for you.
So there you go. Pay attention to your neighbor’s Photinia as the foliage turns from the glorious red color it’s wearing now, to its mature glossy green with lots of white bloom clusters that to help feed bees and butterflies as the season advances. Enjoy!
Q: I have for years depended on the city offering to pick up the spring’s yard cleanup, you call it green-cycling. Have you uncovered the dates for this year’s first green-cycling period? — N.K., Albuquerque A:
Having poked around the city’s Solid Waste website, I can offer this info on this program.
From Monday, April 29, to Friday, May 10, the city of Albuquerque will once again offer to collect your annual green waste recycling. It’s simple too.
On your regular trash collection day, set out your collection of bagged yard waste and crews will come by and whisk them away.
Remember that each bag needs to weigh no more than 40 pounds and if you’re needing to pitch tree and shrub prunings, they need to be cut into lengths of no more than 4 foot long and be bundled. No loose piles of twigs and branches will be collected.
This service is for the removal of leaves, weeds, trimmings and yard waste clean-up only. Please, no construction materials, auto parts or chemicals — no gravel or rocks either.
This green waste, once collected, is taken to be chipped up and used in composting for the city. Tires and roof shingles don’t chip, much less compost, so don’t aim to take unfair, immoral use of this service.
So get cracking, tidy up your spent green waste and set your collections out on your regular trash collection day starting Monday, April 29, through Friday, May 10.
Now we’re good to go and Happy Diggin’ In!