Blue holly vs Photinia 'Red Robin'

Blue holly and Photinia 'Red Robin' are often considered for the same spot in the garden (hedge, screening, specimen). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Blue holly

Ilex × meserveae 2 m × 1.5 m after 10 years

A dense evergreen shrub with glossy, blue-green, spiny leaves that is much hardier than English holly, so it works both as an impenetrable hedge and…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 18

Photinia 'Red Robin'

Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin' 3 m × 2 m after 10 years

Glossy evergreen leaves and bright red new shoots make this a colourful hedge or a striking standalone shrub. Give it sun or partial shade, shelter…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 15

Key differences

Photinia 'Red Robin' grows larger: 3 m × 2 m after ten years, against 2 m × 1.5 m for Blue holly (an estimate: sources differ).
Photinia 'Red Robin' grows faster than Blue holly.
Blue holly is hardier: down to -29 °C, against -18 °C for Photinia 'Red Robin'.
Photinia 'Red Robin' tolerates drought better than Blue holly.
Photinia 'Red Robin' also takes chalky soil, Blue holly prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk.
Photinia 'Red Robin' also takes heavy clay, Blue holly needs a loose, free-draining soil.
Blue holly has thorns, Photinia 'Red Robin' does not.

Which one to choose?

Blue holly is the better choice if space is tight or the garden is cold or a frost pocket.

Photinia 'Red Robin' is the better choice if you want quick results, you cannot water regularly, the soil is chalky or the soil is heavy clay.

Watch out for

Blue holly

In calcareous, alkaline soil the leaves turn yellow (chlorosis), the plant weakens and may die, so in many Central European gardens it needs acidic planting compost and regular soil acidifying. Winter sun and wind over frozen ground can scorch the leaves, and it suffers in hot dry summers without watering. Holly leaf miner, scale, spider mites and leaf spot may occur.

Photinia 'Red Robin'

In Central Europe, severe frost, winter drying and late frosts can damage foliage and young shoots; it is not a reliable choice where winter minima reach -20 to -25 °C. Entomosporium leaf spot can cause substantial defoliation in humid, poorly ventilated planting. Waterlogging can damage roots, and strongly calcareous soil may cause nutrient-deficiency yellowing.

The data side by side

Feature	Blue holly	Photinia 'Red Robin'
Group	Hedge	Hedge
Size after 10 years	2 m × 1.5 m (uncertain)	3 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	1.5–4.5 m × 1–3.6 m	3–5 m × 3–5 m (uncertain)
Growth rate	Slow	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Acidic	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Heat tolerance	Medium	no data
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen
Flowering	April–May, white	May–June, white
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Medium
Planted as a hedge	3 plants per running metre	2.5 plants per running metre
For dogs	Toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	about PLN 33 (< 40 cm)	about PLN 20 (40–60 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 26, 2026

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