- Botanical name: Cotoneaster horizontalis
- Common name: Cotoneaster
- Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Shrub, Deciduous
Pink
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Flowers
- Fruits
Cotoneasters are used ornamentally in shrub borders or as hedges and come in a range of forms and varieties, from deciduous to evergreen and from large shrubs to dwarf plants.
Cotoneaster horizontalis has excellent late colour, but is also popular for the characteristic herringbone pattern of its stems, which develop into a decorative basketwork across the ground or on a wall, according to how it is trained. It is invaluable in shade, although its crops of neat pink flowers and bright red berries are more prolific in full sun. The flowers are a magnet for bees and the berries are eaten by birds.
While it makes excellent garden plants, Cotoneaster horizontalis is listed as an invasive, non-native species on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in England and Wales. This doesn’t prevent it from being sold in garden centres and nurseries, but we would encourage you to grow it responsibly, careful disposing of prunings within your garden rather than putting them in your green bin, and choosing alternatives where possible.
How to grow Cotoneaster horizontalis
-
Plant size
50cm height
1.8m spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle, back
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / chalky / alkaline / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do not Sow in March |
A
Do not Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do Sow in September |
O
Do Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do not Plant in May |
J
Do not Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do Plant in November |
D
Do Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Fruits | ||||||||||||
| Fruits |
J
Plant does not fruit in January |
F
Plant does not fruit in February |
M
Plant does not fruit in March |
A
Plant does not fruit in April |
M
Plant does not fruit in May |
J
Plant does not fruit in June |
J
Plant does not fruit in July |
A
Plant does not fruit in August |
S
Plant does fruit in September |
O
Plant does fruit in October |
N
Plant does fruit in November |
D
Plant does not fruit in December |
| Take cuttings | ||||||||||||
| Take cuttings |
J
Do not Take cuttings in January |
F
Do not Take cuttings in February |
M
Do not Take cuttings in March |
A
Do not Take cuttings in April |
M
Do not Take cuttings in May |
J
Do not Take cuttings in June |
J
Do Take cuttings in July |
A
Do Take cuttings in August |
S
Do not Take cuttings in September |
O
Do not Take cuttings in October |
N
Do not Take cuttings in November |
D
Do not Take cuttings in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do Prune in August |
S
Do Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
| Collect seeds | ||||||||||||
| Collect seeds |
J
Do not Collect seeds in January |
F
Do not Collect seeds in February |
M
Do not Collect seeds in March |
A
Do not Collect seeds in April |
M
Do not Collect seeds in May |
J
Do not Collect seeds in June |
J
Do not Collect seeds in July |
A
Do not Collect seeds in August |
S
Do Collect seeds in September |
O
Do Collect seeds in October |
N
Do not Collect seeds in November |
D
Do not Collect seeds in December |
Cotoneaster horizontalis and wildlife
Cotoneaster horizontalis is known for attracting bees, birds and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers, provides shelter and habitat, has seeds for birds and makes a good wildlife hedge.
Attractive to Bees
Does not attract Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Does not attract Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Cotoneaster horizontalis poisonous?
Cotoneaster horizontalis can be toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to Horses
Toxic to People
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Livestock
