Red-tip Photinias (Shepherd: Home Depot, neighborhoods, buy)

[LastStraw]

Where can I find some to plant?
Are they expensive?

[Hedgehog_Mom]

They're not expensive. I bought some at Home Depot last spring, I think they were about $7 each and they were a decent size. They were growing really fast too, until my dog tore them all up.

[LastStraw]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

They're not expensive. I bought some at Home Depot last spring, I think they were about $7 each and they were a decent size. They were growing really fast too, until my dog tore them all up.

Thanks Hedgehog_Mom
I'm glad they are not too expensive and I'm especially glad they are fast growing.
I'd like to plant them accross my back fence for privacy.

[bigtexan99]

They do grow fast and offer privacy, however they are very susceptible to a red spot fungus disease that will shrivel them up and thin them out.

Try and find a few established plants somewhere and go take a close look and see. Some turn yellow. The treatment is a rose fungucide spray, but its not always effective.

The danger is that you get infected after 3-4 years and have to start over with a new plant.

Check with some local nurserys for other varietys of plants....they may grow a little slower but they will last.

Have you considered Oleander?

[sapphire]

Just be careful with the oleander.
Oleander - Pet Poison Helpline

[Camper1]

Originally Posted by bigtexan99

They do grow fast and offer privacy, however they are very susceptible to a red spot fungus disease that will shrivel them up and thin them out.

Try and find a few established plants somewhere and go take a close look and see. Some turn yellow. The treatment is a rose fungucide spray, but its not always effective.

The danger is that you get infected after 3-4 years and have to start over with a new plant.

Check with some local nurserys for other varietys of plants....they may grow a little slower but they will last.

Have you considered Oleander?

We have some that are about 18 years old. Some have gotten the spots and lost a lot of their leaves but have come back fully without being treated while the others have been fine. All of them are now in bloom with pretty white flowers and almost as tall as a two story house.

Luck of the draw possably?

[mrstxcop]

Yes! Please be careful with Oleanders... We planted 3 in our backyard at our old house, not knowing they were poisonous...

One morning my husband came home from work to find our 80 lb German Shepherd dead... We found areas where she had thrown up and a foamy substance around her mouth... We were at a loss for what happened and were looking around the backyard for something that was possibly thrown into the yard that could have poisoned her... Then I noticed apx 3 leaves that were chewed on one of the plants, just the tips were chewed up... After some research I found that the leaves have a sweet taste, hence the chewing and that that just 1 leaf is enough to kill a small child...

Needless to say our dog never had a chance...

[Rustybolt]

The red tips grow too fast for me. If there is a height you don't want them to exceed, be prepared to do a lot of trimming.

[Cuero]

Red tip photinias are a staple of new neighborhoods around here. They are great for privacy and grow really fast. You can buy them just about anywhere that sells plants and they are inexpensive. Just make sure they don't grow taller than you like because trying to trim them down is a losing battle.

[OaklandR]

I had about 8 across the back of my fence line. They all died from disease about 5 years later. The grew fast and were tall, but after that I will never buy them again. I then found out that this area is really bad for them.