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Cotoneaster - Cotoneaster pannosa
Also known as - Silver Leaf Cotoneaster

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. 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 2 meters (6ft) tall with simple elliptic leaves 1-2.5 cm (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 4.5 meters (15 ft) tall and 6 meters (20 ft) wide.

Many varieties and cultivars abound, the more common being -
• Franchet Cotoneaster - C. franchetti
• Willow Leaf Cotoneaster - C. salicifolius
• Cultivars -
  • 'Herbstfeuer' - A prostrate plant, less than 30cm (1 ft) high with evergreen leaves and red berries.
  • 'Moner' - compact habit, height to 30cm (12 in) and a spread of 1.8 - 2.4 meters (6 - 8 ft). White flowers / red berries
  • 'Repens' - spreading habit 60cm (2 ft) high and 2.4 meters (8 ft) wide. White flowers / 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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