Ebbing's silverberry vs Photinia 'Red Robin'

Ebbing's silverberry and Photinia 'Red Robin' are often considered for the same spot in the garden (hedge, screening, pollinator friendly, container). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Ebbing's silverberry

Elaeagnus × ebbingei 2.5 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A vigorous, dense evergreen shrub with leathery leaves that are glossy dark green above and silvery beneath, bearing tiny, barely visible but strongly…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

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

Ebbing's silverberry tolerates drought better than Photinia 'Red Robin'.
Photinia 'Red Robin' also takes heavy clay, Ebbing's silverberry needs a loose, free-draining soil.
Ebbing's silverberry also grows in shade, Photinia 'Red Robin' does not.
As a hedge, Photinia 'Red Robin' is cheaper: a running metre of plants of the same size (40–60 cm) costs about PLN 50 (2.5 plants), against about PLN 100 for Ebbing's silverberry (2 plants).

Which one to choose?

Ebbing's silverberry is the better choice if you cannot water regularly or the spot is shady.

Photinia 'Red Robin' is the better choice if the soil is heavy clay or price matters.

Watch out for

Ebbing's silverberry

In Central Europe its hardiness is borderline: below roughly minus 15 to minus 18 °C, especially in windy spots exposed to winter sun, the foliage scorches or drops and shoots of young plants may die back. In cold areas it is worth wrapping it for the first few years and mulching the base. Whole branches sometimes die suddenly for no visible reason and should be cut back to healthy wood. Less often the elaeagnus sucker distorts the leaves, and leaf spot or coral spot can appear.

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	Ebbing's silverberry	Photinia 'Red Robin'
Group	Hedge	Hedge
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 2.5 m (uncertain)	3 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	2.4–4 m × 2.4–4 m	3–5 m × 3–5 m (uncertain)
Growth rate	Fast	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Heat tolerance	High	no data
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen
Flowering	September–November, white	May–June, white
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	High	Medium
Maintenance	Medium	Medium
Planted as a hedge	2 plants per running metre	2.5 plants per running metre
For dogs	Non-toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	about PLN 50 (40–60 cm)	about PLN 20 (40–60 cm)
Hedge price per running metre	about PLN 100 (40–60 cm)	about PLN 50 (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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