The photinia there had been allowed to overtake one corner of the house, but after removing several lower branches and thinning some of the upper ones, I had a nice tree form that provided shade for the hostas and wood ferns I planted beneath. Leaves are up to 8 inches long, firm and leathery, finely serrated along the entire outer margin. There are scattered crimson leaves in fall and winter. Leaves drop throughout the year, which some may consider a maintenance problem. The bark develops a scaly texture and turns darker gray-black with age.
Flowers have a scent that some people find unpleasant.
They dry by wintertime. Recommended conditions Chinese photinia grows bests in well-drained soils in sunny to partly shady locations. Mulching is recommended in dryer regions, although the plant is quite drought tolerant. While P. serrulata is apparently resistant to the destructive Entomosporium mespili leaf spot, it is susceptible to powdery mildew and fireblight. These diseases generally occur in spring, fall and winter months during cool weather with high relative humidity and in shady areas.