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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 5 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate; Obtuse; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Dentate; Entire; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
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.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Small blue or black berries
Stem detail
Twigs are stout, brown, streaked with grey, and pubescent at the tip. Pith is solid, green. Twigs have sympodial growth.