Rhaphiolepis x delacourii is a natural hybrid of R. umbellata and R. indica.
They are a dense rounded shrub up to 1.5 m high and wide.
Deep green ovate, elliptic or obovate leaves are up to around 8 cm long.
The edges can be smooth or they can have blunt or sharp teeth.
Teeth or lobes can be on all the edge or just at the tip.
Branched terminal inflorescences (panicles) have an open structure.
Flowers, up to around 2 cm wide have 5 white to pink petals.
The up to 20 stamens have bright red filaments.
The blue-black fruit (pomes) are 1 to 2 cm across.
There are also numerous cultivars of R indica and some of R. umbellata.
Often sold as ‘Indian hawthorn’ there are a number of similar plants with different names.
Most are dense shrubs from 0.75 to 2 m in height.
Foliage is dark green and some have bronze or red new leaves.
Flowers are white, pale or deep pink.
Cultivars often have more than the usual 5 petals.
J.F.
