Hardiness zones
Sunset 8-10, 12-24
USDA 8 (sometimes foliage in winter is damaged by cold) - 11
Landscape Use: Accent, foundation, border, small informal hedge, standard, serviceable shrub for mesic and oasis design themes
Form & Character: Evergreen shrub, clean looking
Growth Habit: Moderate to slow growth habit ranging in height from 2' to 8' depending on cultivar
Foliage/texture: Leathery green, dark green to sometimes burgundy red, oblong to lanceolate to 2-3" long, sometimes tinged with purple, oval leaves with sometimes crenate margins, medium texture
Flowers & fruits: Brilliant, 2" to 3" terminal panicle clusters of small flowers, ranging in color from white, pink to wine red; fruit is a small black drupe borne in summer and fall
Seasonal color: Brilliant display of flowers in March
Temperature: Tolerant to 10oF, injured if temperatures exceeds 118oF
Light: Full sun to partial shade, not for full shade, eastern exposure best in Phoenix.
Soil: Tolerant except of high alkalinity where intervenal chlorosis will develop
Watering: Drought tolerant but looks much better with some regular water
Pruning: Little, except to rarely use heading cuts to promote shape. Prune in May only after bloom.
Propagation: Seed, cutting best
Disease and pests: Aphids, firelight, bacterial leaf spot during periods of moist cool weather (like that ever happens in Phoenix)
Additional comments: Indian Hawthorn is an outstanding and serviceable landscape shrub widely used across the entire southern half of the United States. There are many terrific cultivars. Some of the older, reliable cultivars include:
'Ballerina' (dwarf and prostrate)
'Jack Evans' (medium size and mounding, purple foliage and deep pink flowers) - this IS my all time favorite Indian hawthorn cultivar.
'Enchantress' (vigorous and upright, pink flowers)
'Clara' (dense, very rounded and symmetrical, white flowers)
'Pink Cloud' (vigorous and asymmetrical, pink flowers)
