This species is familiar here (Boston MA Z6a) from the ubiquitous landscaping cultivars, which are low weeping evergreen shrubs widely us...Read Moreed as groundcovers. The species is generally a large shrub or small multistemmed tree as much as 15' tall, and is unaccountably neglected in the US, but more commonly appreciated in the gardens of Europe.
The evergreen leaves are glossy and deep green in summer, acquiring dark purple tones in winter.
The May-June flower display is attractive but not overwhelming. As with all cotoneasters, the flowers are malodorous, like a pyracantha or a callery pear.
The profuse showy scarlet fruit mature in September-October and generally remain ornamental into the winter, eventually to be eaten by birds once they begin to ferment.
It tends to shed its foliage at the base if left unpruned.
Like many cotoneasters, this is often said to be susceptible to fireblight, but Michael Dirr says that he has yet to observe a significant fireblight infestation on this species.
This species is familiar here (Boston MA Z6a) from the ubiquitous landscaping cultivars, which are low weeping evergreen shrubs widely us...Read More