Red tip photinia (Pourthiaea benthamiana)
Care, watering, light and tips for Red tip photinia on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Rosaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 0–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Red tip photinia
Pourthiaea benthamiana, also known as 'Min Yue Shi Nan', is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to Asia, prized for its glossy foliage that emerges with reddish or bronze hues and its white spring flowers. Its dense growth habit and attractive foliage make it ideal for hedges, screens, or as an ornamental specimen in gardens. It provides year-round visual interest, especially in temperate climates.
Native range
East Asia (China, Vietnam)
Care tips
It prefers full sun to partial shade for best foliage color development and abundant flowering. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate moist but well-drained, especially during dry periods or active growth, and reduced in winter. Use a substrate rich in organic matter and with good drainage; a common mistake is overwatering in heavy soils, which can lead to root rot.
How to save a dying Red tip photinia
- Warning signs
- Red new leaves drying/dropping, leaf spots (fungi), chlorosis from alkaline soil.
- First aid
- Prune affected branches, improve drainage, apply fungicide for spots, acidify soil for chlorosis.
- What kills it
- Overwatering (root rot) or highly alkaline soil (severe chlorosis).
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly on early symptoms and address the root cause.