Reflecting on the recent cold days, I decided to write about a cold-hardy shrub that also grows well in Hawaii. Indian hawthorn is an evergreen shrub that is adaptable to a variety of locations here. It is somewhat drought and salt tolerant and grows well in most types of soil. It also produces small, lightly fragrant flowers nearly year-round followed by dark blue berries. Both offer attractive additions to floral arrangements. You might want to consider adding this plant to your garden.
A member of the Rosaceae (Rose) family, those in the Raphiolepis genus make excellent low border plants as well as taller screening hedges. Both Indian hawthorn (R.indica) and Yeddo hawthorn (R.umbellata) also grow well in containers and are often used in bonsai.
Many cultivars exist offering a variety of sizes, growth habits as well as leaf and flower shapes and colors. Most are commonly referred to as Indian hawthorn despite their cultivar differences.
The true Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis indica) is a native of southern China and does well in our warm climate. It grows to five feet tall and can be kept as a small single shrub or part of a border hedge. It usually has deep green leaves with serrated edges and produces panicles of small white flowers followed by berry-like blue fruit.
The Yeddo hawthorn is similar in many ways but has a taller growth habit with darker rounded leaves and includes several cultivars with pink flowers. This variety is a Japanese native that also grows well here and by pruning lower branches can become an attractive tree up to fifteen feet tall.
Both grow on slopes, along roadsides or streams and near woodlands in southern China and Japan where they are native, but long ago these plants spread to parts of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Today, the plants are growing in warm temperate and tropical areas around the world.
Plants in the Raphiolepis genus usually grow in a mounded form with clusters of pink or white 5-petaled flowers that appear above the foliage in the spring. The flower panicles last most of the summer followed by the fruit that lasts until the next bloom. Some varieties even produce a second bloom before setting fruit. The branches, flowers and fruit of these plants are often used decoratively.
Though the fruit does contain seeds, the easiest way to propagate Indian hawthorn is by cuttings. Cut a 4-to-6-inch young woody stem about the diameter of a pencil. Dip the cut end into a rooting compound and place it in a moist mix of vermiculite and perlite. Keep the medium moist (not wet) and wait. It may take a while; most hawthorn varieties are slow growing.
Once new leaves appear and the stem seems to be rooted you can move it to a container with potting soil and prepare it to go into the garden by placing it in the desired spot for longer times every day until you are sure it is ready to plant out.
Your new plant will grow best in full sun, though it can adapt to partial shade. When young, the plant will prefer soil that is moist and drains well. Once established, it can tolerate drought. It can even grow well in the sandy soil and salt spray found in coastal areas.
Both the Indian and Yeddo are low maintenance plants well suited to small gardens. Mature plants can spread to three or five feet wide depending on placement, but they will tolerate pruning to determine their shape. It is best to prune them just after they finish a bloom cycle.
They don’t need much water once established, but are happy with occasional watering, especially during dry periods.
The only down side of Indian and Yeddo hawthorn is their susceptibility to the fungal disease Entomosporium leaf spot. Planting resistant cultivars coupled with good cultural practices can help plants resist the disease.
The best flowering and resistance occur in full sun where there is no overhead irrigation. Sprinklers that wet the leaves should be avoided. Water should be applied to the soil at the base of the plants.
Symptoms of leaf spot appear as tiny, round, red spots that appear on both sides of the leaves. Like most fungal diseases, susceptibility increases in shady, humid climates or after heavy rainfall. The best prevention is to plant disease-resistant cultivars in full sun, prune for good air circulation and use drip irrigation.
More information on the disease, resistant plants and recommended fungicides for leaf spot on Indian hawthorn can be found in a Clemson University publication at https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/indian-hawthorn/.
Several cultivars are described below:
‘Ballerina’ is a dwarf which has a low growth habit. It often has two bloom cycles of her rose-pink flowers. She often grows to two or three feet tall and equally wide. She has some disease resistance.
‘Clara’ is a dense, rounded shrub with white flowers and moderate leaf spot resistance that can grow to four feet tall.
‘Eleanor Tabor™’ is a pink-flowered cultivar that has very good leaf spot resistance, when planted in full sun. She grows between three and five feet tall.
‘Snow White’ is another dwarf form that grows three to four feet tall, has white flowers and good leaf spot resistance.
‘Rosalinda’ is typically grown as a tree, growing to twelve feet tall with dark pink blooms.
‘Jack Evans’ and ‘Pink Lady’ are medium-sized with deep pink flowers.
Of course, many other cultivars exist. Just be sure that one you select does have disease resistance and plan to follow the suggested cultural practices.
Whatever Raphiolepis you choose, you’re sure to enjoy having such a lovely and adaptable plant in your garden for years to come.
Gardening events:
Today, Saturday, Feb. 1: Plant People Road Show, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Makaeo Pavilion at the Old Kona Airport. Local nurseries spring show offers flowers and plants with lots of advice from the growers. Free event.
Saturday, Feb. 8: 19th Annual Avocado Festival, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.at Hale Halawai in downtown Kailua-Kona. Music, food and avocadoes. Free event.
Ongoing: Pre-order leaf resistant coffee trees from UH CTAHR office in Kainaliu. Catimor hybrid seedlings and grafted trees are available. Conventionally grown, not organic. Trees grafted on liberica rootstock (coffee root-knot nematode-tolerant) are $15/ ungrafted seedlings $10. Available first come, first serve basis. Email andreak@hawaii.edu to express interest. A waiver and release form must be signed prior to purchase.
Save the dates:
Saturday, Feb. 22: Grow Hawaiian Festival, at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Hook. More information at the website, www.amygreenwell.garden.
Wednesday, Feb. 26: Avocado Lace Bug Management and Control, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Kona Research and Extension Center at 79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway in Kainaliu. Registration is required at www.eventbrite.come/e/1221966186759?aff=oddtdtcreator or email Andrea Kawabata at andreak@hawaii.edu. Free in person event.
Thursdays through March 2025: Coffee Related Research and Management Update Webinars, starting at noon. Registration is required at www.hawaiicoffeeed.com/coffeewebinars or contact Matt at 808-322-0164 two days prior. Live Q&A follows each session.
Tuesday, Feb. 25: Coffee Symposium and Trade Show, at the Outrigger Kona’s Kaleiopapa Conference Center with the Trade Show immediately adjacent. Sponsorships and registration available at the Kona Coffee Farmers’ Association website.
Farmer direct markets
(Check websites for the latest hours and online markets)
Wednesday and Friday: Ho‘oulu Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort at Keauhou Bay.
Saturday: Keauhou Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center; Kamuela Farmer’s Market, 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables; Waimea Town Market, 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea; Waimea Homestead Farmers Market, from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground.
Sunday: Pure Kona Green Market, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook; Hamakua Harvest, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hwy 19 and Mamane Street in Honokaa.
Plant advice lines
Anytime: konamg@hawaii.edu
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu: 322-4893 or walk in.
Mon., Tues. and Fri: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Konohana in Hilo, 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living on Oahu and working part time in Kona.
