Cotoneaster Plant: How to Care for a Cotoneaster Hedge

The cotoneaster is a deciduous or evergreen shrub in the Rosaceae plant family that produces white flowers and red berries. Some fast-growing species can reach the size of small trees, while other species spread horizontally at a significantly slower growth rate. Depending on the species of cotoneaster, the plant might be appropriate for ground cover or ornamental hedges.

General plant care techniques promote healthy cotoneaster plant growth. Here are several tips to help you nurture cotoneaster plants in your garden:

• Check for signs of disease or pest infestation. The cotoneaster is a hardy plant, but it is still susceptible to root rot and bacterial infections like fire blight. Since these plants have a dense and rapid growth habit, these issues can spread quickly to nearby shrubs. If signs of disease appear, remove the infected leaves and branches and apply an organic insecticide or bacteriacide to the local area.
  
• Plant cotoneaster in a compatible Hardiness Zone. This low-maintenance, ornamental plant can survive in poor soils and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hardiness Zones 5–8. Plant your cotoneaster in well-draining soil and do not overwater it for the best results. Excessive ground moisture can lead to wood rot and other plant diseases. If you plant cotoneaster in regions that experience drought in late summer, water the plant regularly until it becomes established in the soil. Mature plants are more drought-tolerant and will require less water.
• Propagate cotoneasters to produce more foliage. Certain species reproduce rapidly through dropped seeds; however, you can assist with the spread of cotoneaster by propagating the plant. Propagation can promote healthy plant growth in the mother plant by creating space for new branches.
• Provide full sun or partial shade. Plant cotoneaster in sunny areas where they will not overshadow nearby plants or perennials requiring full sun—a cotoneaster can mature to a height of seven feet tall and six feet wide. Adding cotoneasters—which can spread quickly—to steep hillsides can serve as erosion control, protecting your garden and home from mudslides.
• Prune cotoneaster shrubs in early spring. These plants benefit from light pruning throughout the year, but it is easier to remove dense inner branches before the shrubs spread in late spring and early summer. If a branch is dead or infected with disease, remove the branch entirely.
• Use mulch as protection before the first frost. Spreading mulch around the base of the plants will help insulate the shrubs’ root systems from extreme temperatures. Layer mulch around plants throughout the growing season to prevent weeds from sprouting.

Consider these popular cotoneaster species to plant in your garden:

1. 1. Bearberry cotoneaster: The Cotoneaster dammeri, or bearberry cotoneaster, is a low-growing, semievergreen shrub. It produces clusters of bright red fruit called “pome,” which are similar in color and size to hawthorn tree berries. These low-hanging fruits are a favorite food source for foraging bears, hence the plant’s common name. Gardeners and landscapers use the ‘Coral Beauty’ cultivar as ornamental ground cover.
2. 2. Cranberry cotoneaster: This deciduous shrub produces stiff, arching branches and pale pink flowers in the spring. The shiny, dark green leaves of the cranberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus) sprout from branches that grow in a herringbone pattern. The plant becomes a focal centerpiece when the leaves change color, displaying hues of scarlet and deep purple. During this time of year, the plant’s pink blooms fall off and red berries begin to grow.
   
3. 3. Creeping cotoneaster: Branches of the slow-growing creeping cotoneaster (Cotoneaster adpressus) can spread to be more than six feet wide from the main root system and take root into the soil wherever they land. Plant this shrub in rock walls or along walkways to take advantage of its sprawling foliage. Although this variety is similar to the cranberry cotoneaster, it produces white flowers instead of pink blooms.
   
4. 4. Hedge cotoneaster: Cotoneaster lucidus, or hedge cotoneaster, is one of the larger cotoneaster varieties. This deciduous shrub can grow to a mature height of ten feet. Trim this shrub’s dense branches to form a well-manicured privacy hedge or let it run wild for a natural aesthetic in your garden. Bees and other pollinators flock to the plant’s blooms from spring to late summer. In the fall, black berries grow in place of the flower petals. Birds feed on these berries and promote the spread of the plant.
5. 5. Rockspray cotoneaster: The Cotoneaster horizontalis, or rockspray or rock cotoneaster, is a slow-growing shrub that spreads horizontally. A hardy plant, it produces red berries and waxy leaves. Rockpray cotoneaster requires only shallow depths of soil and nutrients to prosper, making it a fit for steep hillsides or tight spaces in rock gardens, in which most other plants are unable to grow.
6. 6. Spreading cotoneaster: The shiny green leaves of the spreading cotoneaster (Cotoneaster divaricatus) hold their waxy luster throughout the year, even as they turn orange or red in the fall. The plant grows into a dense, round shrub and can reach heights of eight feet. It’s possible for landscapers to shape this bush into ornamental hedges or other geometric shapes.

Cotoneaster berries have a low toxicity level, meaning they are lethal only if you consume them in large amounts. Humans and pets who ingest smaller amounts of cotoneaster berries might experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea. Fence off areas to protect pets, livestock, and other herbivorous animals from consuming large quantities of cotoneaster berries.

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