The Best Indian Hawthorn for a Tall Hedge

Showy Flowers

• Growing 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, species Indian hawthorn shrubs are grown for their glossy dark green leaves, fragrant spring flowers and blue-black fruits. The umbellata species features rounded leaves that sometimes take on a purplish tinge in winter, while the indica hawthorn bears more elongated foliage. Pinkish-white flowers appear in clusters and resemble single roses, with five petals apiece. Like other members of the rose family, Indian hawthorn shrubs are susceptible to fungal leaf spot disease.

The Best Hawthorn

• For appearance, size, disease hardiness and overall vigor, the best Indian hawthorn for a hedge might be "Majestic Beauty," which grows 8 to 10 feet tall or more and can also be clipped and trained into tree form if an allee, rather than a hedge is desired. Leaves are up to 4 inches long and turn from brown to green. The plant is also resistant to leaf spot disease. Michael A. Dirr, professor emeritus at the University of Georgia, calls "Majestic Beauty" "the most robust growing of the common cultivars."

"Eskimo" Variety

• Slightly smaller than "Majestic Beauty," "Eskimo" (Rhaphiolepis "Eskimo") is also an excellent variety. Introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum, "Eskimo" is 6 feet tall by at least 6 feet wide, with white flowers. In rhaphiolepis plant trials at the University of Georgia's Griffin Experiment Station, "Eskimo" was found to be the hardiest and most disease-resistant of the varieties tested. It has also been used for breeding purposes and is the parent of "Georgia Charm" (Rhaphiolepis "Georgia Charm"), a smaller, white-flowered cultivar, and "Georgia Petite," another small variety with pinkish-white flowers and good resistance to cold and disease.

Specialty Hedges

• Excellent tall hedging plants like "Majestic Beauty" work in a number of hedging situations. With flowers that attract pollinators and decorative, edible fruits, they are excellent for wildlife or habitat gardens. Dense texture and evergreen habit also make the shrubs good candidates for formal landscapes. Once established, Indian hawthorn also has good drought tolerance, making it a good candidate for drought-tolerant landscapes. Where planting strips for hedges are restricted, the genus' small root space requirement is an asset. Indian hawthorn is also good for seaside gardens, as it is tolerant of salt spray.