| According to Michael Dirr's "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants", Indian hawthorn is not a hawthorn at all, but is instead Raphiolepsis indica. It is not very cold hardy, ranging from zones 10 to 9. He asserts that it is fairly similar to the (only slightly) hardier R.umbellata and R. x delacourii. R. umbellata grows about 5 feet tall and and wide although some forms are three times that size. Named varieties may be smaller. It is used in many ways in southern gardens, but in general tends to be a loose, open mounded evergreen. It might be notable for its salt tolerance and possible use by the seaside. Information is a bit sparse on the Indian Hawthorn, it is not widely grown. It is native to Southern China and Dirr notes it was introduced in thic country in 1806. I hope this is useful. |
