Indian Hawthorn Apple Blossom

Indian Hawthorn 'Apple Blossom' (Rhaphiolepis indica 'Apple Blossom') is the low maintenance flowering hedge for gardeners who do not want to think about it again. It settles at about 1.5m tall and wide, holds dense leathery evergreen foliage, and covers itself in soft pink and white blossom in late winter and spring. Salt, drought, frost and poor soil all leave it alone.

Why you'll love it

• A hedge that flowers. Apple blossom pink and white flowers cover the plant for weeks, then it goes back to being a clean evergreen shape.
• The right height without work. At 1.5m it reaches useful hedge height on its own, so one trim a year is usually enough.
• Tough on hard sites. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, salt tolerant and untroubled by poor soil, which suits coastal blocks and neglected corners.
• Good for pollinators. Bees and butterflies work the blossom heavily through the flowering weeks.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row. The canopies meet within about two seasons and the plant stays furnished at the base rather than lifting into bare stems.

Mass planting and borders. At the same 1m spacing it makes an even block under taller trees, and a single row makes a substantial informal border along a fence or driveway.

Coastal gardens. Salt laden wind does not burn the foliage, so it holds up along exposed boundaries where softer shrubs go ragged.

Growing Indian Hawthorn 'Apple Blossom' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering; part shade works but the plant grows looser. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy once established, so it covers most of the country outside the wet tropics.

Soil. Undemanding, provided drainage is reasonable. It handles sand, clay and poor ground. On heavy soil, plant on a slight mound and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep water twice a week through the first summer, then only through long dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough. Overfeeding produces leaf at the expense of flower.

Pruning. Trim straight after flowering, since the buds for next season form on the growth that follows. One cut a year holds the shape; a neglected plant can be cut back harder and will reshoot.

What to expect when it arrives

Four sizes are grown: tubestock, 140mm plants in packs of ten, 200mm plants in packs of six, and single 300mm plants. Tubes are young and single stemmed, and they are the value choice for a long hedge, adding about a season before the row closes. The 300mm plants are branched and give an immediate presence in a garden bed.

Plants are packed to travel upright and some leaf drop after transit is normal. Expect two to three quiet weeks, then new growth, with the first proper flowering in the season after planting. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete Indian hawthorn care guide
• Compare the best hedging plants
• Coastal and salt tolerant plants
• Browse other low maintenance shrubs

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Tighter spacing costs more plants without closing the hedge sooner, and it makes the row harder to water evenly.

Can I keep it lower than 1.5m?

Yes. A trim after flowering will hold it at around a metre. Cut too late in the season and you remove the wood that carries next winter's blossom.

Does it need much water once established?

Very little. After the first summer it is genuinely drought tolerant and only needs help through extended dry periods, which is a large part of why it ends up in low maintenance plantings.