Indian Hawthorn Rhaphiolepis x delacourii
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Indian Hawthorn:
- Phonetic Spelling
- raf-ee-oh-LEP-iss del-a-COR-ee-i
- Description
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Indian Hawthorn is a bushy, small, rounded evergreen shrub with leathery leaves that is moderately dense and rounded and grows up to 6.5'. The spring flowers are showy and are followed by purple-black fruits.
It prefers full sun in well-drained soils and is very drought and salt tolerant.
This plant is a hybrid of R. indica and R. umbellata. This is the most frequent Rhaphiolepis encountered in landscapes, many cultivars attributed to the hybrid are cited in trade as R. indica, which is distinguished by more tree-like growth form and larger serrate, acuminate leaves. Fruits of R. indica and the hybrid are similar, about 1/2 the size of R. umbellata. The fruits are ornamental and persist through winter but are often hard to see in the foliage. The habit is more open than R. umbellata and is highly susceptible to deer browsing. It does well in USDA hardy zones 7b-10. It is utilized in coastal plains in mass planting, foundation planting, in planters, and in protected areas in other zones.
This plant is tolerant to salt and shade. It is moderately drought tolerant and resistant to Phytophthora root rot but has pest and disease problems such as leaf spot, aphids, nematodes, and scale. Plant varieties resistant to Entomosporium leaf spot.
This is an excellent coastal plant for a hedge, in shrub borders or foundations. Plant in a protected area from strong winds. Several cultivars are available.
Quick ID Hints:
- Growth is sympodial
- Pink/rose/white flowers are in an open terminal panicle
- Open evergreen shrub has leathery, reticulate leaves
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is often browsed by deer.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Coastal Garden - Tropical
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Corleyscourii'
- ‘Enchantress’
Blooms late winter to early summer - ‘Kruschenia’
Blooms in August - ‘Wilcor’
2-4 feet, more cold hardy, resistance to leaf spot
Showy clusters of white flowers in the spring - ‘Enchantress’
- 'Corleyscourii', ‘Enchantress’, ‘Kruschenia’, ‘Wilcor’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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'Corleyscourii'
- ‘Enchantress’
Blooms late winter to early summer - ‘Kruschenia’
Blooms in August - ‘Wilcor’
2-4 feet, more cold hardy, resistance to leaf spot
Showy clusters of white flowers in the spring - ‘Enchantress’
- 'Corleyscourii', ‘Enchantress’, ‘Kruschenia’, ‘Wilcor’
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhaphiolepis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Edibility:
- Fruit is edible when cooked
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 5 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 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
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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 Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small blue or black berries
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are rose-pink to pink to pinkish-white, fragrant, less than an inch in size, 5-petaled, obovate, and clawed. There are 5 sepals, and 15-20 bright pink-red stamens.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Obtuse
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Dentate
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, coriaceous, variable, ovate to elliptic to obovate, obtuse to acute to subacuminate, rotund to broadly cuneate, margins dentate to crenate to serrately crenate to subentire, lustrous dark green above, reticulate and dull green beneath. They grow between 1-3" long. They are glossy.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are stout, brown, streaked with grey, and pubescent at the tip. Pith is solid, green. Twigs have sympodial growth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heavy Shade
- Salt
