Maximus Indian Hawthorn

Maximus Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica 'Maximus') is the taller Indian hawthorn, reaching about 2.2m high and 1.5m wide, which puts it in useful hedging territory rather than the low border where the family usually sits. It carries leathery evergreen leaves, white and pink flowers in spring, and it copes with heat, salt, poor soil and frost. For a low fuss hedge that flowers, there are few easier shrubs.

Why you'll love it

• Hedge height without the work. At 2.2m it screens a standard fence line, and two trims a year hold it wherever you want it.
• Spring flowers, then berries. Clusters of white and pink flowers open in spring, followed by dark berries that small birds work through.
• Tolerant of the hard stuff. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant and comfortable in poor soil, so it suits both coastal and inland gardens.
• Dense evergreen foliage. Thick leathery leaves hold from the base up, so the hedge does not go bare at the bottom the way softer shrubs do.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row. At that spacing the plants close into a solid face within two seasons and the row keeps its foliage right down to ground level.

Coastal gardens. Salt tolerance and tough foliage make it a sound front boundary shrub on exposed blocks where softer hedges brown off.

Mass planting and pots. At 1m centres it makes a low maintenance block planting, and a single plant in a 500mm pot works as a balcony screen.

Growing Indian hawthorn in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering and densest growth, though it accepts part shade with a looser habit. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and is frost hardy once established.

Soil. Almost any soil that drains. It performs in poor and sandy ground, and on heavy clay it wants a raised bed with compost through the backfill.

Water and feed. Deep water twice a week through the first summer, then taper off as it becomes genuinely drought tolerant. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring keeps the foliage dark, under 75mm of mulch held clear of the stems.

Pruning. Trim straight after flowering, then again in late summer if you want a tighter face. Cutting before flowering removes the buds, which is the usual reason a hedge never blooms.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 140mm plants in packs of 10, 200mm plants in packs of 6 and single 300mm pots. The 140mm packs are the value option for a long hedge run and close in about three seasons. The 300mm plants are already bushy, giving a shorter wait for a solid face.

Plants are packed to travel upright and settle quickly. Expect a quiet first month, then steady growth through the warm season, with a first proper flowering the spring after planting. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and our 30 day healthy plant guarantee on every plant.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The full Indian hawthorn care guide
• Compare the best hedging plants
• Screening shrubs in the 2m to 4m range
• How to plant and maintain a sharp hedge

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Tighter spacing does not close the gaps faster and makes the row harder to feed and water evenly.

Can I keep it lower than 2.2m?

Yes. Two trims a year will hold it at 1.2m to 1.5m without any loss of density, because it reshoots readily from within the canopy rather than only at the tips.

Why has my hedge stopped flowering?

Almost always pruning at the wrong time. Buds form on wood made after the previous flowering, so a winter or early spring trim cuts them off. Trim immediately after the flowers finish instead.