The Cotoneaster is an evergreen shrub, that can
be found in many gardens and parks. It produces
a lot of white flowers at the beginning of
the summmer. These flowers are visited by bumbelbee's.
At the start of the winter, there are still
red berries, loved by a lot of winterbirds.
But the most atractive point of cotoneaster are
the evergreen fresh colored leaves.
All cotoneaster are very winterhardy and
grow on even poor soil and tolerate half shadow.
Cotoneaster population
Once the Cotoneaster shrubs were sensitiv for
some diseases especially those produced by bacteria.
But nowaday the cultivars are strong
and very winterhardy.
Cotoneaster cultivars
Cotoneaster salicifolia is the most popular,
the cultivar Cotoneaster salicifolia 'Scarlet leader'
is a evergreen groundcover.
Franchet's Cotoneaster or Cotoneaster franchetii is up
to 3 meter high and is popular as an ornamental plant,
but also often used as an hedge.
Cotoneaster horizontalis is just like the franchetii
a large and fast growing shrub.
Cotoneaster dammeri 'Major' is useful as a
groundcover.
Cotoneaster horizontalis
This low shrub is an excellent shrub to be used as topiary
in exactly the same way as boxes does: It is possible to
form a cloud or animals from this shrub. But Cotoneaster
can do more : it flowers in may and attracts amounts of
butterflies and bees. The red berries are formed in the
fall and are very attractiv after the leaves have fallen of.
De cotoneaster horizontalis has white fragrant flowers
visited in may by butterflies and bumblebees
This cotoneaster horizontalis is formed like
a cloud the foto is made in May, and the flowering just started.
topiary
Only a few shrubs are suitable for topiary,
on this website you can find: Taxus or Yew
The best, but grows slowly.
Larger yew bushes retain their shape for generations.
Errors in pruning can be restored savely.
Laurel
Is good for topiary but loses its leaves during
severe winters. Buxus
fast growing, but not produces many disappointments.
Pruning errors can not or very difficult restored. Holly
Holly is good for tall hedges.
Myrtle
Myrtle remains low and has fragrant leaves.
It is a good alternative for yew.
Cotoneaster salicifolia is een during a frosty
period in the middle of the winter.
The berries are more sensitiv for cold and will
discoloration, but will also be eaten by birds.
The leaves and berries are used for Christmass ornaments.
The leaves of Cotonaster salicifolia
will only fall down after very severe frosty wheather.
De cotoneaster salicifolia 'Scarlet Leader' is
useful as an evergreen groundcover.
plants used with Christmass
These plants are evergreens and
play an important role in celebrating Christmass
