Photinia

Photinia (Photinia × fraseri, most often the 'Red Robin' variety) is an evergreen shrub grown mainly for its vivid red young shoots — they turn green over time, but every trim triggers a fresh burst of colour. That's exactly why it's increasingly planted as a hedge instead of arborvitae or cherry laurel: it's dense, takes clipping well, and adds a colour effect evergreen conifers simply can't match. It does best in full sun to light shade in free-draining, moderately moist soil — it dislikes waterlogging. Water it regularly for the first couple of years after planting; after that it's fairly undemanding. It's less frost-hardy than arborvitae, so young plants are worth wrapping in fleece for their first winters. In wet years it can develop entomosporium leaf spot (reddish-brown spots) — good airflow and watering at the base rather than over the leaves both help.