India Hawthorn 'Snow White' is a dense, evergreen shrub that brings year-round structure and spring fragrance to warm-climate gardens. Native to southern China, this broad-leaved beauty grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, producing delicate white flowers in loose clusters from May through July, followed by showy blue-black fruit. Hardy in zones 8 through 10, it thrives in full sun with moderate water and minimal maintenance, tolerating drought once established and handling the heat and humidity of coastal and warm inland gardens with ease.
Full Sun
Moderate
8-10
72in H x 72in W
—
High
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The real draw here is the combination of ornamental interest across multiple seasons. Fragrant white flowers bloom prolifically in spring, bronze-tinged new growth adds color contrast as leaves mature to deep green, and the striking blue-black fruit persists long enough to provide visual appeal into fall. In full sun, flowering is most abundant and leaf spot disease is least troublesome, though the plant tolerates light shade if needed. Established specimens are genuinely drought-tolerant, asking for only moderate water once their roots are settled, and the dense, naturally compact form requires minimal pruning.
India Hawthorn is primarily grown as an ornamental shrub, especially well-suited for hedging in warm climates where its dense, naturally compact growth habit creates effective screens and borders without requiring heavy pruning. The combination of fragrant spring flowers, persistent blue-black fruit, and year-round evergreen foliage makes it valuable in landscape design for seasonal interest.
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Prune after flowering in summer if needed to maintain the desired shape and size. The plant's naturally dense, compact habit means it rarely requires heavy pruning and responds well to light shaping cuts.
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“Rhaphiolepis indica hails from the slopes, wooded areas, and stream-side roadsides of southern China, where it evolved as a hardy, drought-tolerant shrub in competitive forest understory conditions. The species has been cultivated across warm regions for centuries, valued for its reliable performance and ornamental qualities. The 'Snow White' cultivar represents a selection bred for pure white flowering, distinguishing it from the species type which produces white to light pink blooms.”