Indian Hawthorn
Rhaphiolepsis
indica
Introduction
This slow-growing, small, rounded evergreen shrub
is ideal
for any sunny garden. The neat, compact
growth habit
seldom needs pruning and the low profile
makes Indian
Hawthorn well-suited as dense, large-scale groundcovers,
low
dividers, or informal hedges. High salt-tolerance
makes Indian
Hawthorn especially useful for seaside plantings.
General Information
Scientific name: Raphiolepis indica
Pronunciation: raff-fee-oh-LEPP-piss IN-dick-kuh
Common name(s): Indian Hawthorn
Family: Rosaceae
Plant type: ground cover
USDA hardiness zones: 8 through 11
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: border; mass planting; container or above-ground
planter; ground cover; trained as a standard;
small parking lot
islands (< 100 square feet in size); medium-sized
parking lot
islands (100-200 square feet in size); large
parking lot islands
(> 200 square feet in size)
Availability: generally available in many areas
within its
hardiness range
Description
Height: 3 to 7 feet
Spread: 6 to 10 feet
Plant habit: spreading
Plant density: dense
Growth rate: slow
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: serrate
Leaf shape: obovate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: pink
Flower characteristic: spring flowering; pleasant
fragrance;
fall flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: round
Fruit length: less than .5 inch
Fruit cover: fleshy
Fruit color: blue
Fruit characteristic: attracts birds
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy;
typically ultitrunked
or clumping stems
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: thick
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part
sun
Soil tolerances: alkaline; clay; sand; acidic;
loam
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: good
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: very sensitive to one or more
pests or diseases
which can affect plant health or aesthetics
Use and Management
The rich, grey-green leaves are set off by a
profusion of
fragrant, loose flower clusters, ranging from
white to deep pink,
depending upon cultivar, appearing in springtime.
A second,
less pronounced flower display may be produced
in the fall.
Flowers are followed months later by somewhat
showy, small,
purplish-black berries.
Indian Hawthorn does best on well-drained soils
and
tolerates drought conditions well. Plants will
not be as dense or
flower well if grown in partial shade. In addition,
plants in less
than 6 hours sun often lose foliage due to a
leaf spot disease.
This is a perfect low-maintenance small shrub
in the sun. Plant
on 3 to 4 foot centers to establish a quick covering,
dense
planting mass. Be sure that air circulation is
good around the
plant to prevent leaf spot diseases.
Available cultivars include: ‘Ballerina’, 1 to
2 feet tall,
dark pink flowers; ‘Enchantress’, dwarf plant
that blooms
profusely from late winter until early spring;
‘Fascination’,
dense, compact plant with star-shaped springtime
flowers, rosecolored
with white center; ‘Hines Darkleaf’ (Bay Breeze)
is
patented, propagation rights are protected, hardy
into zone 8,
maroon or green new foliage, dark purple fall
color; ‘Jack
Evans’, compact, spreading growth, double pink
flowers;
‘Snow White’, dwarf, spreading growth, white
blooms, early
spring well into summer; 'Springtime’, faster-growing
selection
with dense, leathery, bronze green foliage and
profuse pink
flowers from late winter to mid-spring. Raphiolepis
indica
rosea has pink flowers and more compact habit,
good for areas
with hot sun and poor soil.
Propagation is by seed or cuttings.
Indian Hawthorn is bothered by soil nematodes
and scale.
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spots often infect the foliage causing leaf
drop in
shady locations.
by Edward F. Gilman
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