Cotoneaster - Cotoneaster pannosa, species information page. Also known as Silver Leaf Cotoneaster

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Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster - Cotoneaster pannosa
Photos ©2003–

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Cotoneaster - Cotoneaster pannosa
Family - Rosaceae
Also known as - Silver Leaf Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster is classed as an introduced and invasive species under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981[1]

A member of the Rose family, the Cotoneaster is a shrub usually used in landscaping schemes for hedging, screens or ground cover, it has small dark green alternate leaves with pink to white flowers maturing to small clusters of orange or red berries. Cotoneaster is superficially similar to Pyracantha however Pyracantha is a prickly, spiny plant useful for hedging whereas Cotoneaster is not spiny.

A native of China it is now found in most countries, regarded in some as an invasive weed to be eradicated, especially North America and Australia. Grows to 2m (6ft) tall with simple elliptic leaves 1–2.5cm (0.5–1in) long, and a Globular red fruit about 6mm (0.3in) long. Fruiting during the autumn–winter (rather than summer–autumn like most shrubs), it attracts birds when their food source is scarce who eat the berries and spread the seed in their droppings. Mature plants can reach 4.5m (15ft) tall and 6m (20ft) wide.

Many varieties and cultivars abound, the more common being –
Franchet Cotoneaster – C. franchetti
Willow Leaf Cotoneaster – C. salicifolius
Cultivars 0–
- Herbstfeuer - A prostrate plant, less than 30cm (1ft) high with evergreen leaves and red berries.
- Moner - compact habit, height to 30cm (12in) and a spread of 1.8–2.4m (6–8ft). White flowers and red berries.
- Repens - spreading habit 60cm (2ft) high and 2.4m (8ft) wide. White flowers and bright red berries, evergreen in warmer areas.
- Scarlet Leader - dense & low growing habit, arching branches and small red fruit. The leaves turn a bronzy colour in autumn.

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It is illegal to "plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild" any plant that is listed on schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [top]