Cotoneaster adpressus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- koh-toh-nee-ASS-ter ad-PRESS-us
- Description
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Creeping Cotton Easter is a deciduous shrub in the Rose family. It is native to Asia and prefers full sun to partial shade in moist but well-drained loamy soils. This low growing groundcover has a dense prostrate habit. It is an easy to grow low maintenance plant that is tolerant of poor soils, erosion, drought, pollution, deer and rabbit browsing. Plant it in a rock garden, or cascading over a rock wall. It looks excellent mass planted to cover a slope or area prone to erosion. Creeping Cotton Easter does not perform well when grown in hot summer climates, and they can be difficult to grow in locations south of zone 7.
The showy red berries emerge after the flowers have bloomed. They will ripen to a brilliant red in late summer into fall, and will continue to appear into winter. Makes a great addition to a winter garden. Spreading horizontally, the stems can root where contact is made with the soil.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Mites can be an issue under hot and dry conditions. It will sometimes experience issues with fire blight, leaf spots, lace bug, canker and contoneaster web worm. Dense foliage close to the ground can become a maintenance issue as leaves drop and are difficult to remove.
Eating the fruits can cause mild stomach upset.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Tom Thumb'
- 'Tom Thumb'
- 'Tom Thumb'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Tom Thumb'
- 'Tom Thumb'
- 'Tom Thumb'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cotoneaster
- Species:
- adpressus
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees are attracted to nectar in the flowers. Birds favor the berries.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Defines Paths
- Easy to Grow
- Textural
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Creeping
- Dense
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Round dark red fruits mature late summer through fall 1/4" long
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The small white with a hint of pink flowers bloom in late spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Sinuate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, dark green ovate leaves grow to 1/2" in length. Margins are wavy and leaves have attractive reddish/purple fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The branches are stiff.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
