Indian Hawthorn Rhaphiolepis indica
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Indian Hawthorn:
Previously known as:
- Rhaphiolepis umbellata
- Phonetic Spelling
- raf-ee-oh-LEP-iss IN-dih-kuh
- Description
-
Indian hawthorn is an evergreen tree-like shrub that grows up to 12 feet and has a sympodial growth form.
t is not cold tolerant. This plant prefers full sun, is tolerant of salt and shade, and is moderately drought-tolerant. Deer love this shrub so browsing can be quite heavy.
This plant blooms in mid-late spring. Fruits on this plant are the largest of the Rhaphiolepis selections. Fruits are also ornamental and persist through winter; they are usually conspicuous due to size and clustering but may be hard to see in foliage. In industry trade, most plants bear this name, and cultivars cited with this species name are R. x delacourii.
It is often utilized in the coastal plains, as a specimen plant, in mass plantings, in foundation planting, as a screen, in planters, in blanks, and as a hedge. I
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves large, coriaceous, broad, serrate to entire, acuminate, reticulate below
- Tree-like evergreen shrub with sympodial growth
- Inflorescence an open terminal panicle, flowers pinkish-white
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It has pest and disease problems and is frequently damaged by deer. Fungal diseases increase in shady, moist southern sites. It is resistant to Phytophthora root rot and some cultivars are resistant to Entomosporium leaf spot– the latter are most recommended to plant.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Courtyard Garden Coastal Foundation- Tropical
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Clara'
- 'Majestic Beauty'
May be listed under R. umbellata - 'Minor'
May be listed under R. umbellata - 'Pinkie'
Dwarf form with bright pink flowers; may be listed under R. umbellata - 'Snow White'
Dwarf form with white flowers; may be listed under R. umbellata
- 'Clara'
- 'Clara', 'Majestic Beauty', 'Minor', 'Pinkie', 'Snow White'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Clara'
- 'Majestic Beauty'
May be listed under R. umbellata - 'Minor'
May be listed under R. umbellata - 'Pinkie'
Dwarf form with bright pink flowers; may be listed under R. umbellata - 'Snow White'
Dwarf form with white flowers; may be listed under R. umbellata
- 'Clara'
- 'Clara', 'Majestic Beauty', 'Minor', 'Pinkie', 'Snow White'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhaphiolepis
- Species:
- indica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South China to Indo-China and Temp. Eastern Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollinators are attracted to the nectar of the flowers. Frequently browsed by deer.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Phytophthora root rot
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
-
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are subglobose berries that are less than an inch in size and are purplish-bluish-black in color. They persist into winter.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are white and tinted pink towards the center. They are less than an inch in diameter. They have 5 petals, are obovate, clawed, and have 15-20 reddish-pink stamens. Inflorescence is a terminal, flat-topped, tomentose, open panicle up to 3" in diameter.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Obtuse
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, coriaceous, lanceolate to obovate to suborbicular, acuminate, entire to serrate, and up to 3" long. Leaves are lustrous dark green above, reticulate and dull green beneath clustered at the end of stem. They are tinged purple in the winter and new growth is gray-green to bronze in color.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are stout, brown, streaked with grey, and pubescent at the tip. Piths are solid and green. They have sympodial growth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heavy Shade
- Salt
- Wind
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
