 |
|
Height Spread Growth rate Form Exposure Persistence Bloom Color Bloom Time The flowers are fragrant and showy. Environment Culture Notes Indian Hawthorn does best on well-drained soils and tolerates drought conditions well. This is a perfect low-maintenance small shrub in the sun. Plant on 3 to 4 foot centers to establish a quick covering, dense planting mass. Plants will not be as dense or flower well if grown in partial shade. In addition, plants in less than 6 hours sun often lose foliage due to a leaf spot disease. Also be sure that air circulation is good around the plant to prevent leaf spot. There are some new cultivars that resist leaf spot disease. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people. Available cultivars include: `Ballerina', 1 to 2 feet tall, dark pink flowers; `Enchantress', dwarf plant that blooms profusely from late winter until early spring; `Fascination', dense, compact plant with star-shaped springtime flowers, rose-colored with white center; `Hines Darkleaf' (Bay Breeze) is patented, propagation rights are protected, hardy into zone 8, maroon or green new foliage, dark purple fall color; `Jack Evans', compact, spreading growth, double pink flowers; `Snow White', dwarf, spreading growth, white blooms, early spring well into summer; `Springtime', faster-growing selection with dense, leathery, bronze green foliage and profuse pink flowers from late winter to mid-spring. Rhaphiolepis indica var. rosea has pink flowers and more compact habit, good for areas with hot sun and poor soil. The following cultivars supposedly resist leaf spot: 'Clara' (one of the best), 'Janice', 'Snow White', 'Rosalinda', 'Dwarf Yedda', 'Olivia' (one of the best), 'Eleanor Taber' (one of the best), 'Indian Princess' (one of the best), 'Majestic Beauty'. The following have been shown to be susceptible at least in some years: 'Pinkie', 'Harbinger of Spring', 'Enchantress', 'Heather', 'White Enchantress', 'Springtime', 'Spring Rapture'. Planting and establishing shrubs The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate. Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer. This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment. Pests, Diseases and Damaging Agents |
Rhaphiolepis
indica syn. Raphiolepsis indica Indian Hawthorn evergreen shrub full sun to part shade blooms in
spring this is a good substitute for azalea except in deer prone
areas. Deer will eat this one!