INDIAN HAWTHORN AT A GLANCE COMMON NAME: Indian
hawthorn
SPECIES: Raphiolepis (raf-i-oll'ep-is) indica (in'di-ka), member of Rosaceae family.
Raphiolepis is Greek for needle scale, referring to bracts in inflorescence (flowering
part of plant); indica, from India.
SIZE: See varieties below.
FORM: Spreading with irregular branching. Alternate thick, leathery leaves.
DESCRIPTION: Dark green foliage, can be purple in winter. April flower, terminal
panicles, pink or white. Fall fruit, black or purplish small berries (persist through
winter). Slow growth rate.
VARIETIES: Snow White, dwarf form, pure white flowers from early spring to early
summer, good resistance to leaf spot. Enchantress, grows to 3 feet high and 5 feet wide,
rose-pink spring blooms. Dwarf Yedda, Grows 3-4 feet high and wide, white flowers and dark
green foliage. Pink Lady or Springtime, grows to 4 by 6 feet, deep pink flowers, resistant
to leaf spot. Majestic Beauty, fast grower (grows to 10 feet or more in 10 years),
pearl-pink flowers in spring, good resistance to leaf spot.
EXPOSURE: Sun (for greater spread and more flowers) or part shade. Tolerates wind and
salt spray.
CULTURE: Prefers slightly alkaline soil with medium drainage and fertility. Drought
tolerant.
PRUNING: None needed. For more compact plants, pinch back branch tips after flowering.
USES: Attractive, dense background plants, informal hedges.
Sources: Landscape Plants of the Southeast, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants,
Anderson's Garden Center, McDonald Garden Center, Roadview Farms Nursery, Smithfield
Gardens |