YELLOWSTONE ARBORETUM
" Stewards of the Natural Environment "
Billings, Montana @ ZooMontana
Spreading Cotoneaster
Catalogue A# 2018-020 H30
GPS 45d 43' 58" N / 108D 37' 40" W
Cotoneaster divaricatus
Common name: Spreading Cotoneaster
Origin: Central China
Location: Homestead Hill west of Schoolhouse entry
Number in accession: 3
Note: Planted late summer 2018-Very colorful berries
CRITIQUE
The stiff, arching branches of the cranberry cotoneaster form an impenetrable mass, making it very effective cascading over a wall, in a shrub border, as a foundation plant, or a ground cover. Small, dark green, glossy leaves and cranberry-red fruit make it a nice addition to the landscape.
All Common Names: Cranberry cotoneaster
Family (English): Rose
Family (Botanic): Rosaceae
Tree or Plant Type: Ground cover, Shrub
Foliage: Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native Locale: Non-native
Landscape Uses: Foundation, Massing, Mixed border, Patio/sidewalk
Size Range: Low-growing shrub (under 3 feet)
Light Exposure: Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun/shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness Zones: Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7
Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soil
Season of Interest: Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Flower Color & Fragrance: Pink
Shape or Form: Arching, Mounded
Growth Rate: Slow
More Information:
Size and Form
2 to 3 feet high and 3 to 6 feet wide; spreading habit, often with arching branches. It can be used as a shrub or a trailing ground cover. Trailing ground covers have trailing stems that spread out from central root system. These stems spread out horizontally over the ground, but do not root to the ground.
Tree & Plant Care
Generally a low maintenance plant.
Avoid wet planting sites.
Tolerant of many conditions (alkaline soil, drought, clay soil, salt).
Disease, pests and problems
Mites and scale insects are potential problems.
Native geographic location and habitat
Native to China
Bark color and texture
Stiff, arching branches form an impenetrable mass.
Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture
Simple, alternate, small leaves (less than 1 inch long); glossy, dark green.
Fall color is bronze-red; retains fall color into November.
Flower arrangement, shape, and size
Small, pinkish flowers in late spring; solitary.
Cranberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculata)
Cranberry-red fruit (pomes).