Cotoneaster
Also known as: Cotoneaster acutifolius · Peking Cotoneaster · Hedge Cotoneaster · Shiny Cotoneaster · Hollyberry Cotoneaster · Late Cotoneaster · Milkflower Cotoneaster · Parney Cotoneaster · Diel's Cotoneaster · Diels' Cotoneaster · Spreading Cotoneaster · Franchet Cotoneaster · Franchet's Cotoneaster · Orange Cotoneaster · Rock Cotoneaster · Rockspray Cotoneaster · Wall Cotoneaster · Black Cotoneaster · Dark-Fruited Cotoneaster · Many-flowered Cotoneaster · Willow-Leaved Cotoneaster · Willowleaf Cotoneaster · Himalayan Cotoneaster · Simon's Cotoneaster
12 types of cotoneaster
Black Cotoneaster (C. melanocarpus)
N/Aalso: Dark-Fruited Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster melanocarpus
Compact shrub with dark purple-black berries and good fall color.
Diel's Cotoneaster (C. dielsianus)
N/Aalso: Diels' Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster dielsianus
Arching shrub with small leaves and abundant red berries.
Franchet Cotoneaster (C. franchetii)
N/Aalso: Franchet's Cotoneaster, Orange Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster franchetii
Graceful arching shrub with orange-red berries and gray-green leaves.
Hedge Cotoneaster (C. acutifolius var. lucidus)
N/Aalso: Shiny Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster acutifolius var. lucidus
Glossy-leaved form commonly used for hedges and screens.
Himalayan Cotoneaster (C. simonsii)
N/Aalso: Simon's Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster simonsii
Upright shrub with pink-tinged flowers and red berries; good for hedging.
Hollyberry Cotoneaster (C. bullatus)
N/Aalso: Cotoneaster bullatus
Large leaves with prominent veins and bright red berries.
Late Cotoneaster (C. coriaceus)
N/Aalso: Milkflower Cotoneaster, Parney Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster coriaceus
Evergreen to semi-evergreen species with white flowers and red fruit.
Many-flowered Cotoneaster (C. multiflorus)
N/Aalso: Cotoneaster multiflorus
Vigorous shrub with profuse white spring flowers and red fruit.
Peking Cotoneaster (C. acutifolius)
N/Aalso: Cotoneaster acutifolius
Upright deciduous shrub with pink flowers and black berries.
Rock Cotoneaster (C. horizontalis)
N/Aalso: Rockspray Cotoneaster, Wall Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster horizontalis
Prostrate species with herringbone branches; classic for walls and rock gardens.
Spreading Cotoneaster (C. divaricatus)
N/Aalso: Cotoneaster divaricatus
Low spreading shrub with pink flowers and red fruit; good for banks.
Willowleaf Cotoneaster (C. salicifolius)
N/Aalso: Willow-Leaved Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster salicifolius
Evergreen with narrow willow-like leaves and bright red berries.
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Clean pulp from ripe berries, cold-stratify seed 90–180 days, then sow shallow in pots. Transplant to well-drained soil in sun or part shade.
Pre-sow treatment
Cold stratify 90–180 days at 34–41°F; sow fresh cleaned seed in fall for natural stratification.
Grower's tip
Many species are excellent for wildlife, erosion control, and hedging. Berries are not for human consumption.
Woody plant facts
Soil preferences
Free-draining garden soil. Most shrubs fail from wet feet, not poor fertility.
5.5–7.0 for most; acid-lovers (rhododendron, blueberry) want 4.5–5.5.
Mulch a wide ring with compost or bark each spring; keep mulch off the stems.
Watering
Deep soak weekly for the first two seasons, then only in drought.
Slow soak over the root zone, not the crown.
Overwatered: yellowing leaves, dieback, sour soil. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop, sparse bloom.
Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — hardy shrubs handle 35–90°F once established
Down to the species' rated zone minimum
Hardy once established; first-winter seedlings need a mulch collar or cold frame.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
10–20 gal (38–76 L) for a long-term potted shrub
Dwarf and compact forms do fine in large pots; full-size shrubs eventually need the ground.
Detailed harvesting
Prune rather than harvest — take out dead, damaged and crossing stems, and cut spring bloomers right after flowering so you don't remove next year's buds.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Not applicable — this is a permanent planting.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Structure, hedging, screening, wildlife cover and season-long flower or berry interest.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Mostly insect-pollinated; seedlings vary from the parent.
Not practical. Named cultivars must be grown from cuttings, not seed.
Collect ripe seed or clean berries in fall, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for cotoneaster in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Cotoneaster notes
Cotoneaster seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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