SafePlants

Cotoneaster nitens: Few-flowered Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster nitens, commonly known as Few-flowered Cotoneaster or Kokonor Cotoneaster, is a deciduous shrub noted for its graceful, drooping branches and potential as a garden hedge. It is part of the Cotoneaster genus.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant can be found in gardens and is available for purchase at garden centers.
• The text mentions that Cotoneaster nitens produces berries which may be attractive to animals.
• The plant is known to be used as a hedging plant.

Considerations for Children

• The plant can be found in gardens and is available for purchase at garden centers.
• The text mentions that Cotoneaster nitens produces berries which may be attractive to children.
• The plant is known to be used as a hedging plant.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cotoneaster nitens Rehder & E. H. Wilson
• Family: Rosaceae (Rose family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Species
• Synonyms: None explicitly mentioned, but the text refers to alternative scientific names in databases.

Common Names

• Few-flowered Cotoneaster
• Kokonor Cotoneaster

Distribution and Habitat

• The text mentions its presence in the British Isles, with specific references to the BSBI List of British & Irish Vascular Plants and Stoneworts.
• Observed at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Ecological Role

• Invasive species: The datasheet identifies it as an invasive species.
• Naturalized in Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal.

Morphological Characteristics

• Deciduous shrub, typically 2-4 meters tall, much branched.
• Graceful, drooping branches densely covered with polished leaves arranged almost frond-like.
• Brilliant fall color.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Plant Uses: Honey Plants, Birds & Wildlife, Deer Resistant, Hedges.

Resources and Further Information

• Atlas for the British & Irish Flora species information pages for Cotoneaster nitens
• RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)
• Dave's Garden
• Flora of NW Europe
• The Plant List
• IPNI (International Plant Names Index)
• Australian Plant Name Index
• NYBG (New York Botanical Garden) Virtual Herbarium
• Encyclopedia of Life
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
• B and T World Seeds' database
• Botanical Garden - Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway
• The South African National Biodiversity Institute