Practical
Plants

Rhaphiolepis indica

Indian Hawthorn

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
1.5 m
Spread
2 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit. [1][8][2]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[11]. No more details are given.

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

Plants can be used for informal hedging in areas that are frost free or almost so[9]. Dark blue, turquoise and purple dyes are obtained from the fruit[5].

Product or use
Dye

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Environment

Range
E. Asia - S. China from Yunnan eastwards.
Habitat
Rocky hills[10], slopes, roadsides and streamside thickets at elevations of 100 - 1600 metres[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a warm greenhouse[14]. Stored seed should be sown in February/March in a warm greenhouse[14]. Germination is variable[14]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5cm with a heel, September/October in a frame. Fair percentage[14][4]. Layering[9].

Cultivation

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive fertile loam or peaty soil in a warm sheltered sunny position[9]. Tolerates all but the hottest desert climates[7]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is hardier in Britain than is generally supposed, tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c[7]. Plants succeed outdoors in S. Cornwall[3][12][13] but are generally best grown on a sunny south-facing wall[3]. Plants do not require pruning[6]. A polymorphic species, there are a number of named varieties selected for their ornamental value[9]. Plants resent root disturbance and so are best grown in pots and then planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩

  5. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

  11. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2

  12. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

    ↩

  13. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

    ↩

  14. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

Edit this page