The true Indian Hawthorn species rather than a compact cultivar. Grows larger and more open at 1.5 to 2.5 metres, which makes it the right choice for a screening hedge with real height, and it takes hard clipping better than the dwarf selections.
Approximate only. Minimum height important? Confirm with us.
Height guide & disclaimer
Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you must confirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.
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Rhaphiolepis indica is the true Indian Hawthorn species, the wild parent behind every named cultivar on the market. It is a hardy evergreen shrub with thick leathery leaves, a naturally open rounded habit and clusters of small white to blush-pink flowers through spring, followed by dark blue-black berries.
The species grows larger and looser than the compact selections. Expect 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall and wide, against roughly 1 metre for cultivars such as 'Snow Maiden' or 'Rajah'. That extra size makes it the right choice where you need a screening hedge with real height rather than a low border, and it takes hard clipping far better than the dwarf forms.
It is one of the toughest shrubs available for coastal and exposed sites. Salt spray, sandy soil, heat, poor ground and light to moderate frost are all handled without fuss once established, which is why the species turns up in council and roadside plantings across Australia where irrigation is not an option.
Full sun gives the densest growth and heaviest flowering. It will grow in part shade with a more open habit and lighter flowering.
About Rhaphiolepis indica
Rhaphiolepis indica is the botanical species commonly known as Indian Hawthorn. It is an evergreen shrub in the rose family with glossy leathery foliage, clusters of white to blush-pink spring flowers and dark blue-black berries. Every named Indian Hawthorn cultivar sold in Australia is a selection from this species.
Size and habit are the main differences. The named cultivars have been selected for compactness and sit around 1 to 1.5 metres, with a tight rounded dome. The straight species grows to 1.5 to 2.5 metres with a more open, informal habit, so it works as a proper screening hedge rather than a low border. Species flowers are typically white to pale blush, where cultivars have been selected for stronger pink or pure white displays.
Around 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall and wide at maturity, depending on position and how often it is clipped. Growth is moderate at 20 to 30 centimetres a year. Kept trimmed it holds easily at 1.2 to 1.5 metres as a hedge.
Through spring, typically September to November in most Australian gardens. Flowers are small and carried in clusters, white to blush-pink, and are well worked by bees. Dark blue-black berries follow and are taken by birds.
Yes, it is one of the better shrubs for exposed coastal sites. It handles salt-laden wind and sandy free-draining soils, which reflects its natural habitat on coastal slopes in southern China and Japan. Front-line beach positions still benefit from some shelter while plants establish.
Around 80 centimetres to 1 metre apart for a screening hedge. For a faster join, plant at 70 centimetres. As a specimen or in mass planting, allow 1 to 1.5 metres so each plant keeps its natural form.
Yes, once established. Water regularly through the first summer to build the root system, after which it copes with extended dry periods on minimal watering. The species is used widely in unirrigated commercial and roadside plantings for exactly this reason.
Water through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Trim after flowering to shape or to hold hedge height. The species takes harder pruning than the dwarf cultivars and will reshoot from older wood. Space plants for air movement to reduce leaf spot in humid conditions.
| Pot / bag size | Width | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| 30cm Pot | 33cm | 30cm |
| 40cm/45L Pot | 44cm | 41.5cm |
| 50cm Pot / 70L Pot | 55cm | 41.8cm |
| 100L Bag | 50.6cm | 52.8cm |
| 150L Bag | 66cm | 55cm |
| 200L Bag | 71.5cm | 60.5cm |
| 300L Bag | 88cm | 63.8cm |
| 400L Bag | 99cm | 66cm |
| 500L Bag | 122cm | 66cm |
| 750L Bag | 134cm | 69cm |
| 1000L Bag | 146.3cm | 71.5cm |
| 2000L Bag | 176cm | 82.5cm |
General planting reference from our existing size guide. Actual containers can vary by supplier and batch; confirm exact dimensions if required.
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Enter the length of your boundary, then choose how closely you want to plant.
Enter your boundary length to see how many trees you need.
Measure only the boundary you intend to plant—exclude gates and gaps. Spacing is centre to centre. Quantities are rounded up for one row, allowing roughly half the spacing at each end. Site conditions and pruning affect the final hedge.
Rhaphiolepis indica is the true Indian Hawthorn species, the wild parent behind every named cultivar on the market. It is a hardy evergreen shrub with thick leathery leaves, a naturally open rounded habit and clusters of small white to blush-pink flowers through spring, followed by dark blue-black berries.
The species grows larger and looser than the compact selections. Expect 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall and wide, against roughly 1 metre for cultivars such as 'Snow Maiden' or 'Rajah'. That extra size makes it the right choice where you need a screening hedge with real height rather than a low border, and it takes hard clipping far better than the dwarf forms.
It is one of the toughest shrubs available for coastal and exposed sites. Salt spray, sandy soil, heat, poor ground and light to moderate frost are all handled without fuss once established, which is why the species turns up in council and roadside plantings across Australia where irrigation is not an option.
Full sun gives the densest growth and heaviest flowering. It will grow in part shade with a more open habit and lighter flowering.
About Rhaphiolepis indica
Rhaphiolepis indica is the botanical species commonly known as Indian Hawthorn. It is an evergreen shrub in the rose family with glossy leathery foliage, clusters of white to blush-pink spring flowers and dark blue-black berries. Every named Indian Hawthorn cultivar sold in Australia is a selection from this species.
Size and habit are the main differences. The named cultivars have been selected for compactness and sit around 1 to 1.5 metres, with a tight rounded dome. The straight species grows to 1.5 to 2.5 metres with a more open, informal habit, so it works as a proper screening hedge rather than a low border. Species flowers are typically white to pale blush, where cultivars have been selected for stronger pink or pure white displays.
Around 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall and wide at maturity, depending on position and how often it is clipped. Growth is moderate at 20 to 30 centimetres a year. Kept trimmed it holds easily at 1.2 to 1.5 metres as a hedge.
Through spring, typically September to November in most Australian gardens. Flowers are small and carried in clusters, white to blush-pink, and are well worked by bees. Dark blue-black berries follow and are taken by birds.
Yes, it is one of the better shrubs for exposed coastal sites. It handles salt-laden wind and sandy free-draining soils, which reflects its natural habitat on coastal slopes in southern China and Japan. Front-line beach positions still benefit from some shelter while plants establish.
Around 80 centimetres to 1 metre apart for a screening hedge. For a faster join, plant at 70 centimetres. As a specimen or in mass planting, allow 1 to 1.5 metres so each plant keeps its natural form.
Yes, once established. Water regularly through the first summer to build the root system, after which it copes with extended dry periods on minimal watering. The species is used widely in unirrigated commercial and roadside plantings for exactly this reason.
Water through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Trim after flowering to shape or to hold hedge height. The species takes harder pruning than the dwarf cultivars and will reshoot from older wood. Space plants for air movement to reduce leaf spot in humid conditions.
Evergreen (foliage year round)
Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn is expected to grow 20cm to 30cm per year.
Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn works in an:
Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree
Mature Height: 1.5m to 2.5m
Mature Width: 1.5m to 2.5m
Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn is expected to grow 20cm to 30cm per year.
Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn is expected to grow 20cm to 30cm per year.
They are considered to have a:
Is Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn frost tolerant?
Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.
Rhaphiolepis indica carries clusters of small white to blush-pink flowers through spring, typically September to November in Australia. Flowering is heaviest in full sun. Dark blue-black berries follow through summer and hold on the plant well into autumn.
Does Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn flower?
Flowering Period:
Flower Type:
Flower Colour:
White
No
Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn is Native to Southern China, Vietnam and Japan. Rhaphiolepis indica grows naturally on coastal slopes, open hillsides and rocky ground, which is the source of its salt, heat and drought tolerance. This is the straight species, the wild parent from which every named Indian Hawthorn cultivar has been selected.
The clustered white to blush spring flowers of Rhaphiolepis indica provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. Dark blue-black berries follow through summer and are taken by birds, and the dense evergreen habit gives year-round shelter and nesting cover for small garden birds.
Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn will thrive best in:
Rhaphiolepis indica grows in almost any free-draining soil, from coastal sand through to loam, and tolerates poorer ground where more demanding shrubs struggle. It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH. The only real requirement is drainage, as persistently wet soil leads to root rot.
Is Rhaphiolepis indica – Indian Hawthorn Drought tolerant?
Through establishment Rhaphiolepis indica benefits from regular watering to build a strong root system. Once established it is genuinely drought tolerant and copes with extended dry periods on minimal supplementary watering, reflecting its origins on dry coastal slopes. This hardiness is why the species is used so widely in unirrigated commercial and roadside plantings.
Rhaphiolepis indica is the botanical species commonly known as Indian Hawthorn. It is an evergreen shrub in the rose family with glossy leathery foliage, clusters of white to blush-pink spring flowers and dark blue-black berries. Every named Indian Hawthorn cultivar sold in Australia is a selection from this species.
Size and habit are the main differences. The named cultivars have been selected for compactness and sit around 1 to 1.5 metres, with a tight rounded dome. The straight species grows to 1.5 to 2.5 metres with a more open, informal habit, so it works as a proper screening hedge rather than a low border. Species flowers are typically white to pale blush, where cultivars have been selected for stronger pink or pure white displays.
Around 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall and wide at maturity, depending on position and how often it is clipped. Growth is moderate at 20 to 30 centimetres a year. Kept trimmed it holds easily at 1.2 to 1.5 metres as a hedge.
Through spring, typically September to November in most Australian gardens. Flowers are small and carried in clusters, white to blush-pink, and are well worked by bees. Dark blue-black berries follow and are taken by birds.
Yes, it is one of the better shrubs for exposed coastal sites. It handles salt-laden wind and sandy free-draining soils, which reflects its natural habitat on coastal slopes in southern China and Japan. Front-line beach positions still benefit from some shelter while plants establish.
Around 80 centimetres to 1 metre apart for a screening hedge. For a faster join, plant at 70 centimetres. As a specimen or in mass planting, allow 1 to 1.5 metres so each plant keeps its natural form.
Yes, once established. Water regularly through the first summer to build the root system, after which it copes with extended dry periods on minimal watering. The species is used widely in unirrigated commercial and roadside plantings for exactly this reason.
Water through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Trim after flowering to shape or to hold hedge height. The species takes harder pruning than the dwarf cultivars and will reshoot from older wood. Space plants for air movement to reduce leaf spot in humid conditions.
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Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Balls' is Star Jasmine grown and clipped into a dense evergreen sphere. The small glossy leaves sit tight on a woody framework, holding a clean rounded outline year round. White pinwheel flowers open in spring and carry a strong sweet scent right across a courtyard.
Ball specimens hold at about 1 to 1.5 metres tall and wide with light clipping. Full sun to part shade suits them, in any free draining soil. Growth is slow to moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year. They handle coastal exposure, light frost and dry spells once the roots are down.
Repeat them along a driveway, either side of an entry, or in pots on a terrace where a formal shape is wanted straight away. They read as structure in a planting scheme without the height of a hedge, and because the form is already trained, a new garden looks settled from the day it goes in.
About Star Jasmine Balls
They are Trachelospermum jasminoides, the common Star Jasmine, grown and clipped into a dense evergreen sphere on a woody framework. Instead of climbing, the plant is trained into a self supporting rounded shape. The foliage is small, glossy and dark green, and the plant carries scented white flowers through spring.
They hold at roughly 1 to 1.5 metres tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide. Growth is slow to moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year, so a light clip once or twice a year keeps the ball tight at whatever size within that range suits the setting.
Full sun to part shade both work. Full sun gives the densest foliage and the heaviest flowering, while part shade produces slightly softer, more open growth and fewer flowers. Avoid deep shade, where the ball thins out and loses its outline. Morning sun with afternoon protection suits hot inland gardens.
Yes, and pots are one of the main uses. A container 50 to 60 centimetres wide with a quality free draining mix will hold a ball for years. Water more often than you would in the ground, especially in summer, and feed in spring and again in late summer. Refresh the mix every few years.
Yes, the foliage is held year round. The glossy dark green leaves take on a bronze tinge in cold weather and green up again in spring, but the plant never goes bare. That is what makes it useful as permanent structure in a scheme, particularly in winter once perennials have died back.
Flowering runs through spring, roughly September to November, and often carries into early summer in warmer districts. The white pinwheel flowers are small but produced in quantity, and the scent is strong on still evenings. Flowering is heaviest on plants in full sun that were not clipped hard just before bud set.
Clip lightly with hedging shears once after flowering and again in late summer if needed, taking only the new growth to keep the outline crisp. Water deeply in dry weather, mulch the base, and feed in early spring. The sap is milky and can irritate skin, so wear gloves when trimming.
Westringia fruticosa, Coastal Rosemary, is an Australian native evergreen shrub from the headlands and dunes of the east coast. It builds a dense rounded bush of fine grey green leaves held in whorls, with small white to pale lilac flowers. Despite the common name it is not the culinary herb.
Mature plants sit at 1.5 to 2 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide, growing 30 to 60 centimetres a year, and they clip smaller without complaint. Full sun to part shade and sharp drainage are the requirements. Salt wind, sandy soil, drought and light to moderate frost are all handled.
It is a standard on coastal projects, road verges, council garden beds and exposed banks that need erosion cover. Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for an informal screen, or 80 centimetres for a clipped hedge. A single plant fills a 40 to 50 centimetre pot on a courtyard or balcony.
About Coastal Rosemary
Westringia fruticosa is an Australian native evergreen shrub from the headlands and dunes of the east coast. It forms a dense rounded bush of fine grey green leaves held in whorls, with small white to pale lilac flowers. Despite the common name it is not culinary rosemary and is not used in cooking.
Mature plants reach 1.5 to 2 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide. It clips readily to smaller dimensions and is often maintained at around a metre as a hedge or a low mound. Growth is moderate, roughly 30 to 60 centimetres a year, so it holds a trimmed shape well.
It is one of the best shrubs available for exposed coastal work. It grows naturally on sea cliffs and copes with salt laden wind, sand and reflected heat. It is used constantly on beachfront reserves, dune stabilisation projects and seaside gardens where little else holds a tidy shape.
The main flush is spring and summer, roughly September through February, with scattered flowering at other times of the year in mild districts. The flowers are small, white to pale lilac and sit among the foliage rather than above it. Clipped hedges flower less than plants left to grow informally.
Space plants 80 centimetres apart for a tight formal hedge, or 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen. On banks and batters used for erosion cover, 1 metre in a staggered grid gives full ground coverage within about two growing seasons.
Yes. A pot 40 to 50 centimetres wide suits a single plant for a courtyard, entry or balcony. Use a free draining mix, because the roots will not tolerate sitting wet. Container plants need watering more often than those in the ground, plus a light trim to hold their shape.
Trim lightly two or three times a year, taking the soft new growth and avoiding cuts into bare old wood, which reshoots poorly. Water through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. On most soils it needs no feeding at all, and it resents heavy watering and poor drainage.
Westringia 'Wynyabbie Blue' is a hardy Australian native shrub grown for its lilac blue flowers, which are larger and more freely carried than those of the common white forms. Narrow grey green leaves sit in neat whorls on a dense rounded frame that holds its shape through the year.
Expect 1.5 to 2 metres in height and width at maturity, at 30 to 60 centimetres a year. Full sun brings the heaviest flowering, though part shade is accepted. Drainage matters above everything else, after which it takes salt wind, sandy or gravelly ground, drought and light to moderate frost.
Mass plantings on batters, median strips and coastal frontages are where it earns its keep, and it clips into a low hedge of about a metre without losing its flowering. Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for an informal screen. One plant fills a 40 to 50 centimetre pot neatly.
About Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary
Westringia 'Wynyabbie Blue' is a hardy Australian native shrub grown for its lilac blue flowers, which are larger and more freely carried than those of the common white forms. Narrow grey green leaves sit in neat whorls on a dense rounded frame. It is evergreen and holds its structure all year.
It reaches 1.5 to 2 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide at maturity, growing 30 to 60 centimetres a year. It clips comfortably to around a metre if you want a lower hedge, and it will hold that height indefinitely given two or three light trims a year.
From spring right through autumn, roughly September to May, with sporadic flowers in winter in mild districts. The lilac blue flowers open in flushes rather than all at once, so there is usually some colour on the plant. Flowering is heaviest in full sun on lean, well drained soil.
Yes. Once the roots are established it needs very little water and copes with extended dry periods, which is why it is used on unirrigated median strips and road verges. Drainage matters more than watering, since the plant will die in soggy ground long before it dies of thirst.
It is. Salt laden wind, sandy soils and reflected heat are all handled, and it is planted routinely on foreshore reserves and beachside gardens. In very exposed frontal positions the plant stays lower and denser than it would inland, which generally suits the situation anyway.
Use 80 centimetres between plants for a clipped formal hedge, or 1 to 1.5 metres for a dense informal screen. For mass planting on banks and median strips, 1 metre in a staggered pattern gives full coverage within about two growing seasons and shades out most weeds.
Trim lightly after each flowering flush, taking soft growth only. Cutting back into bare old wood leaves gaps that will not fill in, so stay on top of it rather than letting it get away. Water through the first summer, then rarely. Avoid rich soils and heavy fertiliser.
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Snow Maiden' is a compact evergreen shrub that delivers a fresh burst of fragrant pure white flowers from late winter into spring. The dense mounding habit and glossy dark green foliage give it a lush, polished year-round appearance.
Snow Maiden grows to just 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, holding a naturally tidy rounded form with minimal pruning. The compact size makes it an excellent choice for low clipped hedges, borders, mass plantings, and containers, and it works well as a standout specimen in mixed plantings. Small dark berries follow the flowers.
Snow Maiden performs well in full sun to part shade and is drought hardy once established, thriving in coastal gardens and a wide range of well-drained soils. It is salt tolerant, low maintenance, and needs only moderate water while establishing.
About Rhaphiolepis indica 'Snow Maiden'
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Snow Maiden' grows to 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, forming a naturally compact dense mound.
Snow Maiden has a moderate growth rate of 20-40cm per year once established.
Snow Maiden produces masses of pure white flowers from late winter into spring, followed by small dark berries.
Yes. Snow Maiden is one of the best compact evergreen shrubs for low hedges, borders, and mass plantings, holding a tidy rounded form with minimal pruning.
Yes. Snow Maiden is both drought tolerant and salt tolerant once established, making it well suited to coastal gardens and low-water landscapes.
Plant 50-70cm apart for a continuous low hedge, or 80cm-1 metre for a softer informal border.
Snow Maiden thrives across most Australian climates in full sun to part shade, tolerating heat, coastal exposure, and a wide range of well-drained soils.
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl' is one of the best compact evergreen shrubs available for low hedges and borders. The glossy dark green foliage forms a naturally tidy rounded mound, and clusters of soft white to pale pink flowers appear from late winter into spring, followed by small dark berries.
Oriental Pearl grows to just 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, holding a neat uniform shape with minimal pruning. The compact form makes it ideal for low clipped hedges, narrow borders, mass plantings, and container planting, particularly where space is limited and a formal finish is wanted.
Oriental Pearl thrives across most Australian climates in full sun to part shade, tolerating heat, coastal exposure, salt spray, light frost, and a wide range of well-drained soils. It is both drought tolerant and salt tolerant once established, making it a reliable low-maintenance choice for coastal and low-water gardens.
About Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl'
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl' grows to 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, forming a naturally compact dense mound.
Oriental Pearl has a moderate growth rate of 20-40cm per year once established.
Yes. Oriental Pearl is one of the best compact evergreen shrubs for low hedges, borders, and mass plantings, holding a tidy rounded form with minimal pruning.
Oriental Pearl produces clusters of soft white to pale pink flowers from late winter into spring, followed by small dark berries.
Yes. Oriental Pearl is both drought tolerant and salt tolerant once established, making it well suited to coastal gardens and low-water landscapes.
Plant 50-70cm apart for a continuous low hedge, or 80cm-1 metre for a softer informal border.
Oriental Pearl thrives across most Australian climates in full sun to part shade, tolerating heat, coastal exposure, and a wide range of well-drained soils.
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Rajah' is a compact evergreen shrub grown for its dense rounded habit and soft pink spring flowers. New growth flushes bronze-red before hardening to glossy dark green, so the plant carries colour beyond its flowering season.
It reaches around 1 to 1.5 metres tall and wide, holding a naturally tidy dome without needing to be clipped into shape. That makes it a low-maintenance choice for low hedging, mass planting along a driveway or path, and for filling the front of a border where a larger shrub would crowd.
Flowering runs through spring, typically September to November, in clusters of small pink blooms that draw bees. Once established it is hardy, drought tolerant, frost tolerant and copes with coastal exposure and poor soils, which is why Indian Hawthorn turns up so often in commercial and council plantings.
Full sun gives the densest growth and heaviest flowering. It will grow in part shade, though the habit opens up and flowering reduces.
About Rhaphiolepis indica 'Rajah'
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Rajah' is a compact evergreen shrub, commonly known as Indian Hawthorn. It is grown for its dense rounded habit, glossy dark green foliage, bronze-red new growth and clusters of soft pink flowers in spring. It is one of the more compact Rhaphiolepis cultivars available.
Approximately 1 to 1.5 metres tall and wide at maturity, forming a naturally rounded dome. Growth is moderate at 20 to 30 centimetres a year, and it holds a tidy shape without regular clipping.
Through spring, typically September to November in most Australian gardens, in clusters of small soft pink flowers. Bronze-red new foliage follows the flowering flush, so the plant carries seasonal colour well beyond the blooms.
Yes. It suits low hedging and border edging well at 60 to 80 centimetres spacing. Because the habit is naturally dense and rounded, it needs far less clipping than most hedging plants. Trim lightly after flowering if you want a tighter line.
It performs across a wide range of Australian climates, from subtropical Queensland through coastal and inland NSW, Victoria and South Australia. It handles coastal salt exposure, heat, poor soils and light to moderate frost once established.
Full sun gives the densest growth and the heaviest flowering. It will grow in part shade but the habit opens up and flowers less, so choose the sunniest position available if the display matters.
Yes, once established. Water regularly through the first summer to build the root system, after which it copes with extended dry periods on minimal watering. This hardiness is why Indian Hawthorn is used so widely in unirrigated commercial and roadside plantings.
Very little is needed. Water through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Trim lightly after flowering if a tighter shape is wanted, and avoid hard pruning into bare wood. Good air circulation helps prevent leaf spot in humid conditions.
Rhaphiolepis 'Little Bliss' is a dwarf evergreen shrub with small glossy leaves and a tight, naturally rounded shape. New growth flushes fresh green before settling into a uniform canopy, and soft pink flowers sit above the foliage through spring. It is the smallest of the commonly grown Indian Hawthorns.
Give it full sun to partial shade and reasonable drainage and it will handle most soils, including sand. It takes coastal exposure and reflected heat from paving, and tolerates light to moderate frost once settled. Growth is 20 to 40 centimetres a year, and it holds its shape without shaping.
It works along paths, in low borders, in mass plantings and in pots where a controlled size is the whole point. Councils specify it for median strips and civic beds for the same reason. You get flowering interest and evergreen order at a height that never blocks a sightline.
About Little Bliss Indian Hawthorn
Rhaphiolepis 'Little Bliss' is a dwarf evergreen shrub with small glossy leaves and a naturally neat, rounded shape. Fresh green new growth matures into a uniform canopy, and soft pink flowers sit above the foliage through spring. It is grown where you want low, tidy structure without ongoing clipping.
It is one of the smaller Indian Hawthorns, generally holding at around 60 to 80 centimetres tall and wide. The compact habit means it rarely needs cutting back to stay in scale, which is why it is used along paths and in front of taller planting where sightlines matter.
Growth is moderate at roughly 20 to 40 centimetres a year, slowing as the plant reaches its mature size. Plants establish faster in warm weather with regular watering through the first season. Because the final size is small, that rate is enough to close a border within a couple of years.
Yes. It is well suited to pots, planter boxes and balcony containers because it holds a tight rounded shape without pruning. A pot 35 to 40 centimetres wide is plenty for a single plant. Use free-draining mix, water when the surface dries, and feed in spring with a slow release fertiliser.
Yes. It tolerates salt laden wind and sandy soil well, which makes it a reliable choice for beachside gardens and coastal civic planting. Avoid low spots where water sits after rain. In exposed front line positions give it a season of regular watering to establish before easing off.
For a low hedge or a continuous border, plant 60 to 80 centimetres apart. For feature planting where each shrub is read as an individual mound, allow 1 to 1.2 metres. Mass plantings on a grid at around 70 centimetres give even coverage and close over within two seasons.
Plant in full sun to part shade in soil that drains freely, and water regularly through the first summer. After that it needs very little. A light tidy after spring flowering is optional rather than necessary. Feed once in early spring and top up mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
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Rhaphiolepis indica is the true Indian Hawthorn species, the wild parent behind every named cultivar on the market. It is a hardy evergreen shrub with thick leathery leaves, a naturally open rounded habit and clusters of small white to blush-pink flowers through spring, followed by dark blue-black berries.
The species grows larger and looser than the compact selections. Expect 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall and wide, against roughly 1 metre for cultivars such as 'Snow Maiden' or 'Rajah'. That extra size makes it the right choice where you need a screening hedge with real height rather than a low border, and it takes hard clipping far better than the dwarf forms.
It is one of the toughest shrubs available for coastal and exposed sites. Salt spray, sandy soil, heat, poor ground and light to moderate frost are all handled without fuss once established, which is why the species turns up in council and roadside plantings across Australia where irrigation is not an option.
Full sun gives the densest growth and heaviest flowering. It will grow in part shade with a more open habit and lighter flowering.
About Rhaphiolepis indica
Rhaphiolepis indica is the botanical species commonly known as Indian Hawthorn. It is an evergreen shrub in the rose family with glossy leathery foliage, clusters of white to blush-pink spring flowers and dark blue-black berries. Every named Indian Hawthorn cultivar sold in Australia is a selection from this species.
Size and habit are the main differences. The named cultivars have been selected for compactness and sit around 1 to 1.5 metres, with a tight rounded dome. The straight species grows to 1.5 to 2.5 metres with a more open, informal habit, so it works as a proper screening hedge rather than a low border. Species flowers are typically white to pale blush, where cultivars have been selected for stronger pink or pure white displays.
Around 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall and wide at maturity, depending on position and how often it is clipped. Growth is moderate at 20 to 30 centimetres a year. Kept trimmed it holds easily at 1.2 to 1.5 metres as a hedge.
Through spring, typically September to November in most Australian gardens. Flowers are small and carried in clusters, white to blush-pink, and are well worked by bees. Dark blue-black berries follow and are taken by birds.
Yes, it is one of the better shrubs for exposed coastal sites. It handles salt-laden wind and sandy free-draining soils, which reflects its natural habitat on coastal slopes in southern China and Japan. Front-line beach positions still benefit from some shelter while plants establish.
Around 80 centimetres to 1 metre apart for a screening hedge. For a faster join, plant at 70 centimetres. As a specimen or in mass planting, allow 1 to 1.5 metres so each plant keeps its natural form.
Yes, once established. Water regularly through the first summer to build the root system, after which it copes with extended dry periods on minimal watering. The species is used widely in unirrigated commercial and roadside plantings for exactly this reason.
Water through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Trim after flowering to shape or to hold hedge height. The species takes harder pruning than the dwarf cultivars and will reshoot from older wood. Space plants for air movement to reduce leaf spot in humid conditions.
