Cotoneaster Plant


There are many different types of cotoneasters, that are commonly used for landscaping. You can find various species as shrubs, ground covers and big plants. These woody plants belong to the genus Cotoneaster in the family Rosaceae (rose family). Around 300 species of cotoneaster plants have been identified and the most interesting fact about them is that most of these plants are distinctly dissimilar.

While most of these plants are shrubs, which include both upright and ground hugging ones, there are some small trees too. Cotoneaster plants can be either deciduous or evergreen. Deciduous ones produce attractive flowers during late spring and early summer. However, it is not for the flowers, that these plants are grown, but, the brightly colored berries and leaves (produced during autumn).

Popular Cotoneasters

Now you know that there are many different types of cotoneaster plants, that are commonly used for landscaping. The most popular among them is Cotoneaster horizontalis, which is mainly grown in rock gardens. As the name rightly suggests, this plant grows horizontally. The stems are found to be stiff and dense and they grow in herringbone pattern. The small round leaves turn red during the fall. During late spring, light pink-colored flowers are produced in this plant and this blooms develop to dark red berries, that is one of the main attractive features of the plant. Cotoneaster dammeri is a ground cover plant, which is usually grown on walls and slopes. This plant blooms during late spring and the fragrant, white flowers develop to form red berries in autumn.

Cotoneaster acutifolius is a tall plant with dark green leaves, that turn red in color during autumn. The berries of this plant are black in color and the plant is usually grown as hedge. Other species that are useful as hedge plants are Cotoneaster apiculatus and Cotoneaster divaricatus. These plants too produce red berries in clusters. While cotoneasters are easy to grow, there are some basic requirements, that have to be met with, while growing them.

Cotoneaster Plant Care

They are easy to grow plants, that can thrive in a wide range of growing conditions. However, a little bit of care is required for their healthy growth and maintenance. The minimum requirements for these plants are full sun and moist, well-drained soil. You can plant cotoneasters, after adding some peat moss with the soil. You have to feed the plant twice every month with a water-soluble plant food, till it blooms. After that, use fertilizers every month during the growing season, until the color of the leaves begin to change with the onset of autumn. Another important aspect regarding cotoneaster plant care is pruning, which can be done anytime and this is beneficial for keeping the plant in shape and for removing the dead branches and those parts, that are affected by fire blight. Fire blight can be controlled by using sprays with fixed copper during the flowering season. They should not be planted near orchard apple trees, so as to avoid fire blight. It is also important to remove the suckers produced from the roots of the plant, on a regular basis.

In short, these plants can be an attractive addition to your garden, as it produces beautiful flower clusters and brilliantly colored berries, apart from the color change of the leaves during autumn. If you don't have a cotoneaster plant, get one and enhance the looks of your garden.

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