Clara Indian Hawthorn

Description:

Indian hawthorns (Rhaphiolepis species and hybrids) are low-growing evergreen flowering shrubs. With a dense mounded growth habit, they are ideal low-maintenance plants for use in small gardens and foundation plantings. Indian hawthorns are grown for their attractively neat, mounded form and clusters of flowers. The fragrant, pink or white crabapple-like flowers open in clusters above the foliage in mid-April to May. Bluish-black berries appear in late summer and persist through the winter. The leathery, dark evergreen leaves are rounded, about 2 to 3 inches long, turning purplish in winter.

Habitat:

A native to Southern China Indian Hawthorn tolerates occasional drought, little to moderate water and tolerates a wide range of soils.

Notes:

A couple of warnings about Indian Hawthorn (Rapheolepis indica). First, it is very susceptible to a bad leaf spot fungus if grown in shady conditions, or if over fertilized. It is not something that you should plant a whole bunch of for that reason. Also, it is major deer food in those areas where deer are eating the landscaping.