Cotoneaster

Scientific Name: Cotoneaster integerrimus Medik.

Cotoneaster

General Information
Usda Symbol	COIN16
Group	Dicot
Life Cycle
Growth Habits
Native Locations	COIN16

Plant Guide

Alternate Names

Cotoneaster cotoneaster, Cotoneaster vulgaris, European cotoneaster, great orme berry, Mespilus cotoneaster, Ostinia cotoneaster, quan yuan xun zi (Chinese), skalnik obecny (Czech), wild cotoneaster, zwergmispel (German), Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Cotoneaster.,

Uses

Conservation: The USDA NRCS recommends cotoneaster for use in windbreak plantings on farmsteads and along transportation, transmission, and recreation corridors. Wildlife: Many bird species consume cotoneaster fruit in autumn. The plant also offers protection and habitat to small wildlife species.

Description

General: Rose Family (Rosaceae). Cotoneaster is a multi-branched shrub with a broad crown. It is 2 m tall at maturity. The branchlets are grayish brown, covered with dense hairs, becoming more glabrous at maturity. Leaves are simple, alternate, broadly ovate to almost circular, 2 to 4 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide. They are gray-green above, gray pubescent below, and are untoothed. Buds are brown to pale gray and less than 1 cm long. Two to five flowers are borne on inflorescences that are 1.5 to 2.5 cm long. The flowers are pinkish-white and approximately 8 mm in diameter. The fruit is a dark red berry, 6 to 8 mm in diameter. Cotoneaster blooms in May and June and sets fruit in August and September. Distribution: Cotoneaster is native to Europe and temperate regions of Asia. Its native status in China is debated and has been documented as unknown by some sources. D.E. Herman. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook. Habitat: The natural habitats of cotoneaster are rocky slopes and forests at elevations below 2500 meters.

Adaptation

The recommended USDA hardiness zones for cotoneaster are 3 through 5. Cotoneaster prefers soils that are moist and have a pH range of 5.0 to 7.5. The “North Dakota Tree Handbook” states that cotoneaster is not adapted to alkaline soils (as well as saline soils), but other sources suggest that alkaline soils are preferred. It is adapted to a variety of soil textures. Growth is slow on very dry and poorly drained soils. Cotoneaster does well in full and partial sun.

Pests and Potential Problems

Fireblight is a common problem among cotoneaster plants. It is caused by the bacterium, Erwinia amylovora. New plant growth is black and curved. Smooth bark will crack while older growth will develop cankers. The cankers may cause death. The disease is prompted by heavy rainfall followed by warm, hazy weather. Nitrogen fertilization, late season fertilization, poor soil drainage, and over-watering promote susceptibility to fire blight. Pear slugs are common insect pests that chew cotoneaster leaves, giving plants a skeletonized appearance. Damaged leaves fall prematurely. Pear slug infestations leave cotoneaster unattractive, but do not affect plant health.

Management

To reduce the risk of fireblight infection, do not plant cotoneaster near ornamental or orchard apple trees. Although there is no chemical treatment available, sanitary culture conditions can manage fireblight spread. Prune diseased twigs and remove plants with large cankers. Disinfect pruning tools. Apply sprays that contain fixed copper during bloom-time to prevent infection. Remove suckers from the base of the plant. Pear slug infestation is controlled with insecticides labeled for caterpillars or leaf beetles, or by using a jet of water to remove the slugs. Wood ashes kill pear slugs. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) The USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center released the cultivar ‘Centennial’ cotoneaster in 1987 for conservation use in the Great Plains. Contact your local Natural Resources

Conservation

Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Morphology/Physiology

Reproduction

Suitability/Use

Cotoneaster