Cotoneaster apiculatus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- koh-toh-nee-ASS-ter ah-pik-yoo-LAY-tus
- Description
-
Cranberry Cotoneaster is a dense, broad upright mounding deciduous shrub or tall groundcover from China. The common name refers to the red cranberry like fruits that appear in the fall and persist into the early winter.
Plant in sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. Its spreading habit make it an excellent choice as a ground cover where the spread can flourish, providing erosion control. It also makes a showy display along the top of walls on in a large planter, its cascading habit at its best. It tolerates a range of site conditions except for wet ones. It doesn't do well in hot humid climates of the deep south.
It is primarily grown for its showy red fruits which appear in the fall after spring flowers. The small glossy green leaves add additional interest with nice fall color.The shrub will mature at 3 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide
Its resistance to rabbits, compaction, pollution and salt make it a versatile plant. It is drought tolerant once established and can be used for erosion control on banks as the stems root where they touch the ground.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Prone to spider mites in dry weather. Web worms can also be a problem. Minimal issues with fire blight.
If eaten, the fruits can cause an upset stomach.
Its low, arching and multi-stemmed habit tends to cause debris to collect and weeds to be an issue. A layer of mulch can help prevent weeds.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blackburn'
- 'Blackburn'
- 'Blackburn'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blackburn'
- 'Blackburn'
- 'Blackburn'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cotoneaster
- Species:
- apiculatus
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central China
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts Birds
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Tolerates rabbits, erosion, pollution
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 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:
- Arching
- Broad
- Erect
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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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
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Description:
- Round, glossy red fruits mature in late summer and persist into winter. They will drop when ripe, and often eaten by birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small pink buds open to pinkish/white flowers in late spring. The flowers are tightly pressed t the stems. The plant can be showy when in full bloom.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 3/4 inch long oval glossy green leaves. Fall color is showy in shades of red, purple and bronze.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The branches are stiffly arching. Young stems are reddish/purple. As they mature, they will turn a olive-brown and become somewhat porous.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Meadow
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Messy
