Rhaphiolepis umbellata

Rhaphiolepis umbellata (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Early summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1.5m

Eventual Spread: 1.5m

Hardiness: 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Rosaceae

Rhaphiolepis umbellata is a slow growing evergreen shrub with a bushy habit. Its leathery dark green leaves are ovate with entire margins, up to 7cm long and 5cm across. Its fragrant white/ pale pink flowers are up to 2cm across and appear as terminal panicles. Its blue/ black fruit are fleshy berries.

Rhaphiolepis umbellata, commonly known as Yeddow Hawthorn or India Hawthorn, is native to south Japan and south Korea. In its native habitat it grows in mixed scrub.

The etymological root of the binomial name Rhaphiolepis is derived from the Greek rhaphis meaning ‘needle’ and lepis meaning ‘scale’. Umbellata is derived from the Latin umbella meaning ‘parasol’.

Rhaphiolepis umbellata Leaf (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

The landscape architect may find Rhaphiolepis umbellata useful as an evergreen specimen shrub. It may be maintained as a hedging species. Once established this shrub is somewhat drought tollerant and tolerant of maritime conditions.

Ecologically, Rhaphiolepis umbellata flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. Its fruit are attractive to some birds and mammals.

Rhaphiolepis umbellata prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Rhaphiolepis umbellata requires little maintenance. Necessary pruning should be carried out after flowering.



Landscape Architecture

Photinia serrulata

Photinia serrulata (04/10/2015, Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorchester)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist, well drained

Flowering period: Spring

Eventual Height: 6m

Eventual Spread: 5m

Hardiness: 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Rosaceae

Photinia serrulata is an evergreen shrub with a compact upright habit. Its dark green leathery leaves are narrowly elliptic with serrate margins, up to 22cm long and 6.5cm broad. Its leaves emerge purple/ bronze in spring. Its small white flowers appear terminally in compound corymbs which are up to 16cm across. The flower fragrance is disagreeable to some people. Its berry like fruit are ovoid, initially re maturing to brown/ purple and are up to 6mm across.

Photinia serrulata Leaf (04/10/2015, Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorchester)

Photinia serrulata, commonly known as Taiwanese Photinia, Chinese Photinia or Chinese Hawthorn, is native to Taiwan, China, Japan Philippines, Indonesia and India. In its native habitat it grows in mixed forests. It should be noted that all members of the Photinia genus are poisonous to grazing animals. Photinia serrulata is synonymous with Photinia serratifolia.

The etymological root of the binomial name Photinia is derived from the Greek photeinos meaning ‘shining’ in reference to its glossy leaves. Serrulata is derived from the Latin serrula meaning ‘little saw’, referring to the leaf margins in this plant.

The landscape architect may find Photinia serrulata useful as as an attractive multi stem evergreen tree like specimen. It also makes an attractive evergreen hedge with spring leaf interest. The new growth may be damaged by a late frosts so a sheltered position is advised.

Photinia serrulata New Leaf (04/10/2015, Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorchester)

Ecologically, Photinia serrulata flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. Its leaves are attractive  to the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera.

Photinia serrulata prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, including very alkali.

Photinia serrulata requires little maintenance. If grown as a hedge it should be cut when the new growth has lost its colour. This plant can be trimmed up to three times a year to encourage new red growth, although pruning is not advised after mid August.



Landscape Architecture

Malus halliana

Malus halliana (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 5m

Eventual Spread: 5m

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Family: Rosaceae

Malus halliana Fruit (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Malus halliana is a deciduous tree with a spreading habit. Its mid green leaves are often tinged purple adaxially, ovate to elliptic with serrulate margins, up to 8cm long and 4.5cm broad.  Its grey or purple/ brown bark is shallowly fissured, forming peeling plates with age. Its pink flowers are held in corymbs up to 6cm across and appear at the same time as its leaves. Its red/ purple fruit is a pomme, up to 8mm across and matures in autumn.

Malus halliana, commonly known as the Hall Crab Apple or Adirondak Crabapple, is native to eastern Asia, including China and japan. Malus halliana is synonymous with Pyrus halliana and Malus domestica var. halliana.

Malus halliana Leaf (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Malus is from the ancient Latin name for the apple tree. Halliana is named after Dr. George Rogers Hall (1822-1899), an American doctor working in Shanghai.

The landscape architect may find Malus halliana useful as a small specimen tree with attractive spring flowers and edible fruit.

Malus halliana Bark (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Malus halliana flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. Its fruit are attractive to birds and some mammals (including humans).

Malus halliana prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Malus halliana requires little maintenance. Dead or damaged material may be removed in winter.



Landscape Architecture