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Browse Trees and Plants

Hedge cotoneaster

Cotoneaster lucida

Common names:
hedge cotoneaster, Peking cotoneaster

Content Detail

Hedge cotoneaster is an upright shrub with spreading branches reaching 8 to 10 feet high. Dark green foliage turns a yellow to red in the fall. Makes an excellent screen or tall hedge. Attractive black fruit persist into winter.

  • Family (English) Rose
  • Family (botanic) Rosaceae
  • Tree or plant type Shrub
  • Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
  • Native locale Non-native
  • Size range Medium shrub (5-8 feet), Large shrub (more than 8 feet)
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
  • Soil preference Alkaline soil, Moist, well-drained soil
  • Tolerances clay soil, Occasional drought, Road salt
  • Season of interest late spring, early fall
  • Flower color and fragrance White
  • Shape or form Oval, Round, Upright
  • Growth rate Moderate

Size and form:

Hedge cotoneaster is an upright, erect shrub reaching 8 to 10 feet high and wide.

Native geographic location and habitat:

It is native to Siberia and northern China.

Attracts birds and other pollinators:

Flowers attract butterflies and pollinators.

Bark color and texture:

Hedge cotoneaster has light brown bark that often peels with age.

Leaf description:

This shrub has alternate, simple, elliptic to ovate leaves that are 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches long and an inch wide. The leaves are lustrous dark green and pubescent above, turning yellow to red in fall.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size description:

Hedge cotoneaster produces small, pinkish-white clusters in late May.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

Berry-like black pomes are 1/2 inch in diameter and persist into winter.

Plant Care:

It grows best in full sun to light shade in well-drained, moist, fertile soil. It is soil pH adaptable. The shallow roots benefit with a layer of mulch to maintain moisture and moderate soil temperature fluctuations. It is tolerant of dry soil once established. This shrub can be pruned to maintain size.

List of pests, diseases and tolerances:

It can get leaf spots, cankers, fire blight, mites, and scale insects. It is tolerant of wind and salt.

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