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Woody > Cotoneaster > Cotoneaster horizontalis > Cotoneaster horizontalis

Cotoneaster horizontalis


Rockspray or Rock Cotoneaster




Origin:  Western China, introduced to the western world in the 1880’s.
            Mike's Opinion

this is Mike

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Known as the Rocky or Rockspray Cotoneaster and belonging to the Rosaceae family, Cotoneaster horizontalis produces a beautiful pink flower in late spring and red berries that persist into the winter. This plant is found as a deciduous, semi-deciduous, semi-evergreen, to completely evergreen plant in southern locations. This specimen has beautiful attributes that work nicely in a residential or commercial landscape but use with caution as it can sometimes be a garbage collector in commercial landscape settings where its foliage will trap all manner of debris.



Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)

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Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Cotoneaster
Species
horizontalis
Category
Woody
Type
Shrub (deciduous), Shrub (evergreen)
Pronunciation
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-7
Canadian Hardiness Zone
3a-7b
RHS Hardiness Zone
H7 - H5
Temperature (°C)
-20
Temperature (°F)
-28
Height
50 - 95 cm
Spread
160 - 260 cm
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
MayJune
General Description
This plant is quite attractive year round, covered in pink flowers in late May and red clusters of fruit during the winter. It grows quite low to the ground, sometimes reaching 95 cm in height but can be trimmed to maintain a compact form in landscaped or formal areas.
Landscape
Rock Cotoneaster can be used as a groundcover, mass planting or espalier up a wall or fence.
Cultivation
Well-drained sandy, loamy or clay soils in full sun to partial shade.
Shape
Low growing and spreading horizontally.
Growth
Fast
ID Characteristic
The stems are arranged in a fish bone arrangement. Produces a rich, red pomme fruit.
Pests
Fire blight, leaf spot, and spider mites can all be factors if planted in shady areas with poorly drained soils however, if planted in the sun with well-drained soils, those pests should not be a problem.
Habitat
Thickets on rocky slopes and dry mountains.
Bark/Stem Description
The grey bark is smooth on young stems becoming slightly ridged as it ages.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description
Small, appressed on the stem, grey-brown in colour, covered with 2 bud scales.
Leaf Description
The leaves are simple, alternate, and glabrous on top and pubescent below.
Flower Description
The pink, five petaled flower is quite small at 5 mm however, covers the plant nicely.
Fruit Description
The small, 5 mm, circular red pome fruit persists throughout the winter and can be an attractive attribute. They ripen in September through October.
Colour Description
Leaves are dark green in the summer, losing some of its leaves in winter, those remaining turn a purple/red colour. The bark is grey to brown.
Notable Specimens
Holden Arboretum Mentor, Ohio, United States of America. Great Dixter Garden, East Sussex, England.
Propagation
Scarify the seed in concentrated sulphuric acid for 90-180 minutes then stratify in moist peat soil for 90-120 days at a temperature of 5°C. Softwood cuttings can also be taken in early summer and should be planted immediately, using a rooting hormone for best results.
References
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