Indian Hawthorn, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Indian hawthorn is a compact, mounding evergreen shrub with pink or white flower clusters in late winter and spring, and it grows in SW Florida when it gets full sun and good drainage. It is not the toughest shrub for our wet summers, because leaf spot likes humid, rainy weather, so placement and watering matter. We deliver and plant it in 3 gallon size.
- Light:
- Full sun; part shade is tolerated but bloom and leaf health suffer
- Water:
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt:
- Moderate to high; handles coastal spray
Indian Hawthorn sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Indian Hawthorn | 3 Gallon |
Indian Hawthorn in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 3 to 5 ft tall and wide, depending on the selection
- Light
- Full sun; part shade is tolerated but bloom and leaf health suffer
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate to high; handles coastal spray
- Cold tolerance
- Very cold hardy; frost is not a concern in SW Florida
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Spacing
- 2 to 3 ft apart for a hedge
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Rhaphiolepis indica
Where Indian Hawthorn works in a SW Florida yard
A low, rounded hedge along a walkway, a foundation planting under windows or a mass planting in a sunny bed is where Indian hawthorn earns its keep. It holds a neat shape with little pruning, which suits HOA front yards where a tidy look is expected.
Keep it on drip or a low-volume zone rather than overhead spray, and leave room for air to move between plants. Purple loropetalum, dwarf yaupon holly and society garlic mix well with it.
- Low flowering hedge
- Foundation planting
- Mass planting in sun
- Coastal-yard shrub
How our crew plants it
Full sun, good drainage and airflow are the whole recipe. The root ball sits level with or a little above the soil, because soggy roots invite rot, and hedge plants go in 2 to 3 ft apart so air moves through them; crowding feeds leaf spot.
Our crew sets the depth, waters it in and cleans up. New plants need frequent watering for the first couple of months, which Lee and Collier allow, then your two assigned days.
Care after planting
- Water at the base with drip or a low-volume zone, because wet leaves in rainy-season humidity are what lets leaf spot take hold.
- Prune right after the spring bloom to keep the shape, since later cuts remove next year's flower buds.
- Feed lightly in spring and fall with a slow-release shrub fertilizer that has micronutrients, and keep nitrogen and phosphorus off it in summer, from June 1 to September 30.
- Rake up leaves that drop with spots instead of leaving them under the plant.
- Once rooted it handles dry spells in stride, so keep to your two assigned watering days.
What to watch for
- Entomosporium leaf spot is the main problem, showing as red-brown spots, yellowing and leaf drop after rainy stretches, and it is worst with overhead watering and crowded planting.
- Scale and the sooty mold that follows can show up on stressed plants, and horticultural oil usually clears them.
Indian Hawthorn questions we hear
Does Indian hawthorn grow well in Southwest Florida?+
Yes, with care in how you site it. It takes heat, sandy soil, drought and some salt spray, but rainy-season humidity brings leaf spot. Give it full sun, good drainage and low-volume irrigation, and it stays compact and neat.
How far apart should Indian hawthorn be planted for a hedge?+
Space 3 gallon plants 2 to 3 ft apart for a hedge that fills in over a couple of seasons. UF/IFAS suggests at least 18 inches for air circulation, and wider spacing helps cut down on leaf spot.
Why are the leaves on my Indian hawthorn spotted and dropping?+
Most likely Entomosporium leaf spot, a fungus that spreads in wet, humid weather. Switch to watering at the base, thin crowded plants for airflow and clean up dropped leaves. Healthy new growth follows once the weather dries and the plant is not stressed.
Is Indian hawthorn salt tolerant?+
Yes, moderately to well. Indian hawthorn handles salt spray and sandy soil, which makes it a common coastal shrub. Plant it in full sun and keep it out of standing water, since wet feet cause more trouble than salt.
When does Indian hawthorn bloom in Florida?+
Late winter through spring, with pink or white flower clusters. The buds are set before the bloom, so prune right after flowering ends rather than in summer or fall, or you will cut off the next show.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Indian Hawthorn
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
Also worth a look
Loropetalum Purple
Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Schillings)
Carissa (Natal Plum)
Dwarf Ixora
Pittosporum
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.