Intermediate Indian Hawthorn

Intermediate Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis x intermedia) is the hedge for people who want something to look at as well as something to hide behind. It grows to about 2.5m tall and 2m wide, dense and evergreen, and covers itself in white and pink flowers before setting dark berries the birds work through. Planted a metre apart it closes into a solid hedge in two to three seasons.

Why you'll love it

• A hedge that flowers. White and pink blossom covers the whole shrub in spring, then berries follow, which is more than a green wall usually gives you.
• Coastal proof. Salt and wind tolerant, so it holds up on a beachside boundary where most flowering hedges burn off.
• Very little work. One trim after flowering keeps it in shape. No staking, no spraying, no regular feeding.
• Wide climate range. Frost hardy, heat tolerant and drought tolerant once established, from subtropical Queensland to cool southern gardens.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense hedge held anywhere between 1.2m and 2.5m. Closer spacing does not close the gaps faster and makes the base harder to water.

Mass planting. In a large bed or a median, set plants 1m apart and let them run together into an unclipped mound of foliage and flower.

Coastal gardens and borders. It suits an exposed front garden or a low divider between spaces, and the naturally rounded habit means an untrimmed plant still looks deliberate.

Growing Intermediate Indian Hawthorn in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering and the densest growth; part shade works but the hedge stays looser. It is at home in subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is frost hardy once established. Constant wet tropical humidity is its weak point.

Soil. Any reasonably drained soil, including poor and sandy ground. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound with compost through the backfill. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. A controlled release fertiliser once in early spring is enough, and water at ground level rather than over the foliage.

Pruning. Trim straight after flowering finishes, so you are not cutting off next season's buds. A light shear once a year holds the shape, and it reshoots from older wood if a neglected hedge needs bringing back.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in 140mm pots in packs of ten and 200mm pots in packs of six. The 140mm plants are the value option for a long boundary and cost you a season in closing time. The 200mm plants are further along and give a visible hedge line sooner.

Plants are packed to travel upright, and a few marked leaves after transit are normal. Expect a quiet month after planting, then steady growth through the first warm season. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The Indian hawthorn care guide
• Compare hedging and screening plants
• Coastal salt tolerant plants
• Screening plants 2m to 4m

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. At that spacing the plants meet within two to three seasons and stay furnished right to the ground, which is what makes a hedge read as solid.

Can I keep it at 1.5m?

Yes. A single annual trim after flowering will hold it anywhere from about 1.2m to its natural 2.5m. Trimming later in the year costs you the following spring's flowers.

Does it get any problems?

In humid summers it can pick up leaf spotting, which shows as dark blotches and some leaf drop. Watering at the base rather than over the leaves, and keeping it in full sun with air movement, prevents most of it.