Rhaphiolepis Umbellata

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
• 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.