India-hawthorn

India-hawthorn Care

Rhaphiolepis Indica

Other names: The Indian Hawthorn, Hong Kong Hawthorn

What is the plant

Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepsis indica) is a small, slow-growing shrub perfect for sunny locations. It’s easy to care for because it keeps a neat, rounded shape naturally, without the need for pruning. The shrub looks great year round and becomes a focal point in spring when large, loose clusters of fragrant, pink or white flowers bloom. The flowers are followed by small blue berries that attract wildlife.

it's invasive in Queensland.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

min -7°C

Hardiness zone

8 - 10

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
As a young plant you will need to water the Indian hawthorn generously, but once a strong root system has formed, the plant will be tolerant of moderate drought conditions. Always water this plant at soil level to avoid wetting the leaves, as Indian hawthorn are particularly susceptible to leaf spot, a fungal disease that thrives in moist conditions and on damp foliage.
Pruning
Indian hawthorns do not require pruning and are often left to their own devices to form their natural mound shapes. However, if you wish, you can prune them into a specific shape, such as a ball or a hedgerow when planted alongside other Indian hawthorns. If you do undertake pruning on this plant, it should be done after the summer flowers are spent, so as not to remove any of the growth on which next year’s blooms will be produced.
Fertilizer
Established trees should be fertilized every 2-3 years. Feed in early spring when plants start growing.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
These plants thrive in full sun but will tolerate some shade, preferably in the afternoon. Indian hawthorns do not like to be transplanted and can react badly if you attempt to dig them up and move them, so plan ahead when positioning your plant and ensure it is in the sunniest spot in your garden. If the plant does not get enough light, it can become stretched and gangly looking in its efforts to search out the light, destroying the neat and compact form that the plant is famed for.
Soil
Slightly acidic, organic-rich soil.
Temperature
This evergreen shrub maintains its foliage all year long, with the deep green leaves becoming tinged with purple throughout winter. The Indian hawthorn does rely on mild climates to survive the winter, where deep freezes are unlikely to occur. It can tolerate temperatures as low as around 5º F, but any lower than this will see the plant die back to the ground. It grows well all year round in southern climates and is tolerant of high temperatures going up to the mid ’90s.