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cotoneaster
Scientific Name: Cotoneaster integerrimus
Family: Rosaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Cotoneaster: A Garden Staple
Cotoneasters (Cotoneaster spp.) are a diverse group of shrubs and small trees in the rose family, Rosaceae. They are popular garden plants, known for their adaptability and visual appeal.
Considerations for Pets
- Cotoneasters are often used as hedging plants.
- Several species have escaped from gardens and become naturalized in the wild.
- Cotoneaster horizontalis is a woody shrub with horizontally spreading branches.
- Deciduous cotoneasters are known for their brilliant displays of berries.
Considerations for Children
- Cotoneasters are often used as hedging plants.
- Several species have escaped from gardens and become naturalized in the wild.
- Cotoneaster horizontalis is a woody shrub with horizontally spreading branches.
- Deciduous cotoneasters are known for their brilliant displays of berries.
Scientific Classification
- Genus: Cotoneaster
- Family: Rosaceae (rose family)
- Note: There are over 70 species of Cotoneaster naturalized in Britain.
Common Names
- Harrow cotoneaster (for Cotoneaster harrovianus)
- Wall Cotoneaster (for Cotoneaster horizontalis)
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the Palaearctic region, with a strong concentration of species in Asia.
- Some species, like Cotoneaster cambricus, are rare and localized, such as being confined to the Great Orme in Llandudno.
- Widely cultivated in gardens in regions like England.
Ecological Role
- Some cotoneaster species are considered invasive plants and have naturalized in the wild after escaping from gardens, particularly in Scotland.
- They serve as a reminder that even well-intentioned plantings can lead to unintended ecological consequences.
Morphological Characteristics
- Cotoneasters range in size from 6-inch ground covers to 10-foot hedge plants.
- Cotoneaster harrovianus is an evergreen shrub with arching stems reaching up to 3 meters in height and width.
- Growth habits vary, with some species being low-growing, spreading shrubs, while others are erect bushes or small trees.
- Cotoneaster horizontalis is a woody, perennial, deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub with horizontally spreading branches.
- Deciduous cotoneasters produce attractive flowers in late spring and early summer and are mainly grown for their berries.
Quirky Facts
- Cotoneaster cambricus is so rare that it is only found in the Great Orme in Llandudno, making it a unique botanical treasure of the British Isles.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Cotoneasters attract wildlife to gardens.
- The berries provide a food source for birds.
Further Information
- Stace's multi-access key can be used to identify the many naturalized species in Britain.