Blueberry Muffin Hawthorn

Forum Archives

 

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sparklemama

Location: Western Washington

Posted: May-21-2007 at 9:50am

i was wondering if anyone has heard of or is growing 'blueberry muffin' hawthorn? I saw this in our local nursery and fell in love with it, but the identification tag didn't have any other information on it other then the name. the foliage is a beautiful blueish-purple. what do hawthrons need to be happy? do they get big or stay small shrubs? are they evergreen? i was thinking of putting two in my front bed which gets part sun to shade(after 1 in the summer). i need a few smaller growing shrubs for evergreen interst there. everything else is decidous or herbacous(sp). the only evergreen is a japanese cedar'auroura'(sp). i would appreciate any help or advice, thanks in advance!

 

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Fern

Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills

Posted: May-23-2007 at 8:33am

It is really Indian Hawthorn, Rhaphiolepis, not a true hawthorn like the tree. I haven't grown one myself but I've seen it at the nursery. It looks like a fine plant, I think of it as one of those "evergreen bones of the garden" kind of plant instead of an exciting plant, but every garden needs a few of both kinds. It is low maintenance, they do get some cold damage occasionally but this variety is supposed to be more cold hardy. It is a newer variety, it could be the berries do add more interest to it. They do like the sun, I'm guessing it would live in part shade but may not flower as much or color up as much in the winter [it can get a nice purplish color in winter]. It can't take overly wet soil. It's supposed to be a compact form and it seems slow growing, I'd guess about 3 feet in 10 years.

Here is a link to it.

Clemson U Extension

 

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sparklemama

Location: Western Washington

Posted: May-25-2007 at 3:54pm

thanks so much fern, i saw this in early feb at the nursery and fell in love with the color it had. If they won't work there i have another place that they might like better i think. off i go to the nursery then, thanks for the link.

 

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tommyb

Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley

Posted: May-26-2007 at 7:18am I have had a Dwarf Yedda Rhaphiolepis as the "front and center" plant at the top of the entry steps for about eight years. The signature plant for my mental image of my garden, I see it out the kitchen window next to my coffee pot. I see it many times a day.

More flowers this year than most, I give it an annual shaping after bloom to expose the trunk and lower branching and attempt to achieve a, honesty here, "gumdrop" shape. No giggles in the peanut gallery please.

An absolute rock in my garden. Full sun, fights with the needlepoint ivy for water, great plant.

That said, I have tried for six years to establish a match in the other planter on the opposite side of the steps. As best as I can I have matched soil, fertilizer, watering, therapeutic lectures and other forms of science and magic. The current attempt appears to be settling in, but I pulled it out three years ago and replaced it with a new purchase (potted up and placed it in the "plant hospital"), which eventually failed.

I don't understand organic life forms, some live some don't, I think it's a plot by the nurseries.

Tom

 

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sparklemama

Location: Western Washington

Posted: May-26-2007 at 8:27pm

Lol..I think that sounds like a good guess tommy..lol. I am glad to hear that Dwarf Yedda Rhaphiolepis had done good for you in your garden. I just fell in love with "blueberry' when we saw it and it looks even better in the garden. I was not sure what color the flowers were though. So am awaiting that.

 

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bakingbarb

Location: Washington, Western

Posted: Jul-12-2007 at 10:14pm

Wow, this looks like a beautiful plant. It says the flowers are fragrant, is this so? I love the leathery look to the leaves. Does it bear fruit/berries? Or am I thinking of something else?

~BakingBarb

 

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tommyb

Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley

Posted: Jul-13-2007 at 8:02am

My smeller has never noticed any scent, but the smeller doesn't work well even with it's significant size. Maybe a few berries, I haven't looked for them.

Post pruning with it's Ruby De Oro skirt:

The growth from year to year tells me this plant is doing OK.

Tom

 

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JeanneK

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Jul-13-2007 at 8:44am

Pruning to see the lovely branches was a great idea, Tommy. It looks even more interesting. The daylilies are a nice touch. Nice pic of the flowers. Those leaves seem almost hebe-like.

Sparklemama, Fern's link says that 'blueberry muffin' has white flowers.

Jeanne

 

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sparklemama

Location: Western Washington

Posted: Jul-17-2007 at 10:07am

I really like how you exposed the branches tommy, mine are a whole lot smaller yet but i think eventually i might like some 'gumdrops' in my yard also..lol. I decided to not plant them in the original bed by the front as it does not recieve enough sun for the color i want. Whatever your doing to yours tommy it sure looks very happy.