Rhaphiolepis Umbellata
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Yeddo Hawthorn / Japanese Hawthorn / Round-leaf Hawthorn / Sexton's Bride
Botanical Name: rhaphiolepis-umbellata
Family: Rosaceae
Origin: Japan & Taiwan (East Asia)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Overview
A compact, salt-tolerant Indian hawthorn ideal for Adelaide and South Australian gardens. Rhaphiolepis umbellata forms a neat, glossy mound that looks polished year-round, then erupts with lightly fragrant white blossoms from late winter into spring. Blue-black berries follow, adding extra seasonal interest and food for birds—perfect for low hedges, borders and coastal courtyards.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 1–2.5 m H × 1–2 m W (naturally compact, rounded habit)
- Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Thick, leathery, glossy deep green; fresh bronze new growth with occasional winter burgundy tints; tidy, dense habit
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Flowers: Clusters of white, lightly fragrant blooms late winter–spring; occasional spot-flowering in autumn
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen backbone with bronzed new tips, a late-winter/spring flower show and decorative blue-black berries into autumn/winter
- Wildlife Value: Attracts bees and butterflies; berries can feed birds
- Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant, Heat-Tolerant, Wind-Tolerant; Frost Hardy; Clay-Tolerant with good drainage
- Planting Density: Shrub borders/low hedge: 0.6–1 m apart (0.5–0.6 m for a tight hedge); specimens 0.8–1.2 m apart
- Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic to pets
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best flowering in full sun)
- Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay; avoid waterlogging
- Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
- Maintenance: Light trim after spring flowering to keep compact; tip-prune to thicken; mulch in spring; balanced slow-release feed in early spring
- Lifespan: 20-30 years
- Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal and urban sites
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral; tolerates mildly alkaline if drainage is good
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Low formal hedge along paths or driveways—glossy foliage, spring blossom and year-round neatness
- Coastal courtyard or poolside planting—handles salt and wind while staying compact
- Containers at entries or patios; pair with Lomandra or Ophiopogon for contrasting texture
Why You Will Love It
This is the “set-and-forget” Indian hawthorn—compact, low-mess and ultra reliable in Adelaide heat and coastal conditions. You’ll get a tidy evergreen mound, a sweet spring bloom and bird-friendly berries, all with minimal pruning and water once established.