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cotoneaster
Scientific Name: Cotoneaster
Family: Rosaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Cotoneaster: A Versatile Shrub for Your Garden
Cotoneasters are a diverse genus of flowering plants that offer a variety of options for gardeners. From ground cover to hedges, these plants can add beauty and attract wildlife to your outdoor space.
Considerations for Pets
- Cotoneaster is a shrub with many berries.
Scientific Name and Common Names
- Scientific Name: Cotoneaster
- Common Names: Harrow cotoneaster (for Cotoneaster harrovianus)
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Genus: Cotoneaster
- Family: Rosaceae (Rose family)
- Note: Over 70 species of Cotoneaster Medik. are naturalized in Britain.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the Palaearctic region, with a strong concentration in East Asia.
- Cotoneaster cambricus is found only on the Great Orme in Llandudno.
- Cotoneaster species are naturalized in Scotland and Britain.
Ecological Role
- Some cotoneaster species are considered invasive and can naturalize in the wild.
- Birds and other animals can spread cotoneaster seeds, contributing to their invasive potential.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- 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 3m high and wide.
- Some species are deciduous, while others are evergreen or semi-evergreen.
- Growth habits include shrubs and small trees, with some species being low-growing or erect bushes.
- Cotoneaster horizontalis is a woody, perennial, deciduous or semi-evergreen, procumbent shrub with horizontally spreading branches.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Cotoneasters attract wildlife to gardens.
- They provide resources for birds due to the attractive flowers and berries.
Quirky Facts
- Cotoneaster cambricus is so rare that there are very few plants remaining on the Great Orme, the only place in the British Isles where you can find it growing in the wild.
Further Information
- Stace's multi-access key is mentioned as a resource for identifying the many naturalized species in Britain.