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Cotoneaster (pronounced Koh-TOH-nee-ass-ter) is a wonderful Genus for both beginner and advanced bonsai
students alike. In the Rose (Rosaceae) family, they are tolerant of heavy pruning and human error. This native of
China and the Himalayas has a multi-seasonal appeal. Cotoneaster have small, glossy leaves and tiny pink or white
flowers with red fruit that persists far through the season. It is easy to find at many nurseries, as it is a common
landscaping plant used for ground covers, with a low growing, spreading habit. Because of the naturally small size
of the leaves, cotoneaster make handsome bonsai in smaller sizes.
Hardiness: Zone 4-7, depending on the species, with winter protection below freezing. In warmer areas, up to zone
seven and eight, cotoneaster will be evergreen, where as in colder climates they will loose their foliage in the
winter. Cotoneaster still require a period of cooler weather to thrive, though do not need to go below freezing.
Protect from strong, cold winds.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil: Well draining soil, about 50% organic, 50% grit.
Watering: As necessary in summer. Never allow to completely dry out, but do not over water. Lower water in
winter, just enough to keep from dehydrating. Cotoneaster do not like wet feet!
Fertilizer: Every two weeks with an balanced fertilizer during spring (after flowering) and summer. Nitrogen free
in late summer and fall, tapering off to nothing in winter.
Pests and Diseases: Leaf blight and fireblight. Mites, aphids, scale, lace bugs.
Repotting: Every one to two years in spring, removing up to one third of the root system.
Pruning and Styling: Cotoneaster tolerate very heavy pruning. Prune back to old stems, as cotoneaster will
backbud to old wood. Trim back to one to two leaves in late spring from new growth, cutting just above a leaf
node. Cotoneaster have herringbone patterned branches, as new branches emerge from the base of every leaf stalk
in midsummer or following spring, so rebuilding and forming branches is very predictable. Shape existing or new
branches by cutting back to a leaf facing in the direction you want the new branch to grow. Cotoneaster as
vigorous growers, and constant attention to remove unwanted shoots and keeping the canopy from becoming over
crowded is a must.
Main trunks can tend toward the thin side, but thickening can be encouraged by cutting down suckers at the base
as they grow. Also try planting these in the ground, as they are particularly slow to thicken in a pot.
Wire in spring, before budbreak if necessary.
Propagation: seeds, softwood cuttings in summer, layering.
Styles and Forms: cascade, semi-cascade, mame, clump, root-over-rock, exposed root, slanting, multitrunked
Species and Cultivars: C. acutifolius Peking Cotoneaster. Small, dull green leaves with black fruit in autumn. Vase
shaped habit.
C. adepressus Creeping Cotoneaster. Pink flowers with tiny red fruit. Creeping, prostrate habit. Dark glossy leaves
with red autumn colouring. Hardy to zone 4b.
C. apiculatus Cranberry cotoneaster. Creeping habit. Shiny green leaves with undulating margins, red to
purplish-red colour in autumn. White flowers flushed red; round red fruits. Zone 4.
C. congestus Pyrenees cotoneaster. Mounding habit. Dull bluish-green leaves, white flowers tinged pink, red fruits.
Zone 6.
C. dammeri Bearberry cotoneaster. Creeping evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub. Leaves dark green in summer and
autumn, dull green and purple in winter. White flowers, scanty red fruit. 'Royal beauty' has more abundant, coral
fruit. Zone 5
C. divaricatus Speading cotoneaster. Upright but spreading habit. Tiny, inconspicuous flowers in pinkish-white.
Shiny green foliage, turning red and yellow in the autumn. Purplish stems that turn brown with age. Abundant,
deep red berries that persist long into the winter. More disease and pest resistant.
C. horizantalis Rockspray cotoneaster. Dense, mounding habit. Pink flowers. Shiny red fruit in summer and fall.
Semi-evergreen. Zone 5
C. integerrimus European cotoneaster. Taller, rangy habit, up to 9 feet tall in landscape. Pinkish white flowers in late
spring. Bluish-green foliage with little fall colour.
C. lucidus Hedge or Peking cotoneaster. Upright habit, up to 8 feet tall in landscape. Black fruit, dark green foliage
that turns yellow to red in autumn.
C. microphyllus(C.integrifolius) Littleleaf cotoneaster. Dwarf shrub. Semi-evergreen to fully evergreen. Miniature
shiny, dark green leaves on top, greyish fuzz below. White flowers, bright red fruit. 'Thymifolius' thyme-leaf
cotoneaster, tiny narrow leaves with edges that turn under. Stiff branches. Zone 5.
Other Information:
students alike. In the Rose (Rosaceae) family, they are tolerant of heavy pruning and human error. This native of
China and the Himalayas has a multi-seasonal appeal. Cotoneaster have small, glossy leaves and tiny pink or white
flowers with red fruit that persists far through the season. It is easy to find at many nurseries, as it is a common
landscaping plant used for ground covers, with a low growing, spreading habit. Because of the naturally small size
of the leaves, cotoneaster make handsome bonsai in smaller sizes.
Hardiness: Zone 4-7, depending on the species, with winter protection below freezing. In warmer areas, up to zone
seven and eight, cotoneaster will be evergreen, where as in colder climates they will loose their foliage in the
winter. Cotoneaster still require a period of cooler weather to thrive, though do not need to go below freezing.
Protect from strong, cold winds.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil: Well draining soil, about 50% organic, 50% grit.
Watering: As necessary in summer. Never allow to completely dry out, but do not over water. Lower water in
winter, just enough to keep from dehydrating. Cotoneaster do not like wet feet!
Fertilizer: Every two weeks with an balanced fertilizer during spring (after flowering) and summer. Nitrogen free
in late summer and fall, tapering off to nothing in winter.
Pests and Diseases: Leaf blight and fireblight. Mites, aphids, scale, lace bugs.
Repotting: Every one to two years in spring, removing up to one third of the root system.
Pruning and Styling: Cotoneaster tolerate very heavy pruning. Prune back to old stems, as cotoneaster will
backbud to old wood. Trim back to one to two leaves in late spring from new growth, cutting just above a leaf
node. Cotoneaster have herringbone patterned branches, as new branches emerge from the base of every leaf stalk
in midsummer or following spring, so rebuilding and forming branches is very predictable. Shape existing or new
branches by cutting back to a leaf facing in the direction you want the new branch to grow. Cotoneaster as
vigorous growers, and constant attention to remove unwanted shoots and keeping the canopy from becoming over
crowded is a must.
Main trunks can tend toward the thin side, but thickening can be encouraged by cutting down suckers at the base
as they grow. Also try planting these in the ground, as they are particularly slow to thicken in a pot.
Wire in spring, before budbreak if necessary.
Propagation: seeds, softwood cuttings in summer, layering.
Styles and Forms: cascade, semi-cascade, mame, clump, root-over-rock, exposed root, slanting, multitrunked
Species and Cultivars: C. acutifolius Peking Cotoneaster. Small, dull green leaves with black fruit in autumn. Vase
shaped habit.
C. adepressus Creeping Cotoneaster. Pink flowers with tiny red fruit. Creeping, prostrate habit. Dark glossy leaves
with red autumn colouring. Hardy to zone 4b.
C. apiculatus Cranberry cotoneaster. Creeping habit. Shiny green leaves with undulating margins, red to
purplish-red colour in autumn. White flowers flushed red; round red fruits. Zone 4.
C. congestus Pyrenees cotoneaster. Mounding habit. Dull bluish-green leaves, white flowers tinged pink, red fruits.
Zone 6.
C. dammeri Bearberry cotoneaster. Creeping evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub. Leaves dark green in summer and
autumn, dull green and purple in winter. White flowers, scanty red fruit. 'Royal beauty' has more abundant, coral
fruit. Zone 5
C. divaricatus Speading cotoneaster. Upright but spreading habit. Tiny, inconspicuous flowers in pinkish-white.
Shiny green foliage, turning red and yellow in the autumn. Purplish stems that turn brown with age. Abundant,
deep red berries that persist long into the winter. More disease and pest resistant.
C. horizantalis Rockspray cotoneaster. Dense, mounding habit. Pink flowers. Shiny red fruit in summer and fall.
Semi-evergreen. Zone 5
C. integerrimus European cotoneaster. Taller, rangy habit, up to 9 feet tall in landscape. Pinkish white flowers in late
spring. Bluish-green foliage with little fall colour.
C. lucidus Hedge or Peking cotoneaster. Upright habit, up to 8 feet tall in landscape. Black fruit, dark green foliage
that turns yellow to red in autumn.
C. microphyllus(C.integrifolius) Littleleaf cotoneaster. Dwarf shrub. Semi-evergreen to fully evergreen. Miniature
shiny, dark green leaves on top, greyish fuzz below. White flowers, bright red fruit. 'Thymifolius' thyme-leaf
cotoneaster, tiny narrow leaves with edges that turn under. Stiff branches. Zone 5.
Other Information:
Cotoneaster