Rockspray Cotoneaster horizontalis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- koh-toh-nee-ASS-ter hor-ih-ZON-tal-iss
- Description
-
Rockspray cotoneaster is a coarse, dense, slow-growing, shrub that reaches 2-3 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. In its southern reaches, it is semi-evergreen to evergreen. It requires well-drained soil and tolerates poor soils in full sun to part shade.
Spring blooms give way to abundant showy red fruits. The reddish-purple fall colors are attractive in areas where it is deciduous. The unusual fishbone branch pattern provides year-round interest.
Typically used in rock gardens, on slopes or rock wall and can be trained to walls, trellises or fences.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Robusta'
- 'Robusta'
- 'Robusta'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Robusta'
- 'Robusta'
- 'Robusta'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cotoneaster
- Species:
- horizontalis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Southern China and Taiwan
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds and bees
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Oval 1/4 inch wide bright red fruits appear in late summer.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/2 inch 5 petaled pink flowers appear in late spring. They are borne singly or in pairs close to the branch.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1/2 inch round to elliptic, glossy dark green leaves. Leaves on deciduous plants turn reddish-purple in fall.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Greenish to red-brown stems with branchlets arranged in a fishbone pattern. They have hairs when young but become hailess with age.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Rabbits
