Creeping Cotoneaster Cotoneaster adpressus
ABOUT
Cotoneaster adpressus, known as Creeping Cotoneaster, is a plant with a low-lying, spreading habit that is often used as a ground cover. It boasts dense, small, dark green leaves that are glossy on top with a paler underside. The leaves are simple and arranged alternately along the stems, giving it a lush, full appearance throughout the year, as this plant is evergreen. During the spring, Creeping Cotoneaster produces small, pinkish-white flowers that are attractive and add to its ornamental value. After the flowering season, it bears tiny, bright red berries that persist into the winter, providing a striking contrast against the green foliage and often attracting birds and other wildlife to the garden. The branches of Creeping Cotoneaster are slender and may root where they touch the ground, allowing the plant to spread and fill in areas effectively. Its overall form can be described as mounded and slightly trailing, with a dense and neatly compact texture that makes it an excellent choice for rock gardens, slopes, or as an accent in mixed borders.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Rosaceae
Synonyms
Creeping Cotoneaster, Prostrate Cotoneaster
Common names
Cotoneaster adpressus var. praecox, Cotoneaster microphyllus var. thymifolius, Cotoneaster thymifolius
ToxicityTo humans
Creeping Cotoneaster is not considered highly toxic to humans, but it may contain compounds that can cause adverse reactions if ingested. Symptoms of mild poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In most cases, consuming small amounts of the plant is unlikely to cause serious harm, but larger quantities could exacerbate symptoms and increase discomfort. If you suspect poisoning, it's advisable to seek medical attention.
To pets
Creeping Cotoneaster may be toxic to pets if ingested. While generally not regarded as highly poisonous, the plant can cause gastrointestinal upset in animals, including symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. The level of toxicity and the severity of symptoms can vary based on the amount ingested and the size and sensitivity of the pet. If you suspect your pet has ingested part of the plant and is showing signs of distress, you should contact a veterinarian.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Dark green
Flower color
Pink
Height
1 foot (0.3 meters)
Spread
5 feet (1.5 meters)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
5
Native area
China
Benefits
General Benefits- Low Maintenance: Creeping Cotoneaster is a hardy plant that requires minimal care once established, making it ideal for landscapers and homeowners seeking a low-maintenance ground cover.
- Erosion Control: The plant has a spreading habit and a robust root system that helps in controlling soil erosion on slopes and banks.
- Attracts Wildlife: Creeping Cotoneaster produces berries that are a source of food for various bird species, thus attracting wildlife to the garden.
- Aesthetic Appeal: With its dense and low-growing foliage, small white flowers in the spring, and bright red berries in the fall, Creeping Cotoneaster adds year-round visual interest to garden spaces.
- Drought Resistance: Once established, Creeping Cotoneaster is quite drought-resistant, making it suitable for xeriscaping or gardens with low water availability.
- Frost Tolerance: Creeping Cotoneaster is tolerant of cold temperatures and can survive frost, making it suitable for colder climates.
- Versatility: This plant can be used in a variety of landscape designs, including rock gardens, borders, and as a ground cover under taller plants or trees.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Cotoneaster bonsai: Cotoneaster adpressus, also known as Creeping Cotoneaster, can be trained into bonsai form, making an attractive miniature tree with its dense foliage and small berries.
- Topiary art: The dense and compact nature of Creeping Cotoneaster makes it suitable for topiary, allowing gardeners to shape it into various forms for decorative purposes.
- Wildlife habitat: The thick foliage provides excellent shelter and nesting sites for birds, while the berries serve as food for wildlife.
- Terrariums: Small and slow-growing, Creeping Cotoneaster can be used in terrariums and fairy gardens as a miniature landscape plant.
- Soil erosion control: Planted on slopes and banks, this groundcover plant helps stabilize the soil and prevent erosion with its extensive root system.
- Edging: Creeping Cotoneaster works well as a natural edging for garden paths or flowerbeds, creating a well-defined border.
- Cover for unsightly areas: It can be planted to cover up and beautify areas such as utility boxes or bare patches in the garden.
- Lawn alternative: In areas where grass struggles to grow, Creeping Cotoneaster can serve as a low-maintenance groundcover alternative.
- Underplanting for roses: As it’s tolerant of partial shade, it can be used to underplant rose bushes, providing a green carpet that complements the taller flowering plants.
- Photography: With its attractive berries and foliage, it provides a picturesque background or subject for nature photography.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Creeping Cotoneaster is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Creeping Cotoneaster is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Resilience: Creeping Cotoneaster, being a hardy plant that withstands challenging conditions, often symbolizes resilience and the ability to endure tough times.
- Growth: Its spreading habit and tendency to cover ground quickly can represent growth, expansion, and the spread of positivity.
- Protection: The dense foliage of the Creeping Cotoneaster provides shelter for wildlife, symbolizing protection and safety.
- Adaptability: The plant's ability to adapt to various soils and conditions symbolizes flexibility and the capacity to thrive in different environments.
- Unity: As the branches of Creeping Cotoneaster grow together closely, it can symbolize unity and strength in numbers.
WaterCreeping Cotoneaster benefits from regular watering, especially during its first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Water the plant deeply, ensuring that the soil is moist but not waterlogged. As a general rule, apply approximately one gallon of water per square yard of soil around the plant every week during active growth periods in the spring and summer. In the fall and winter, reduce the frequency to every two to three weeks, depending on rainfall and soil conditions. Always check the soil moisture level before watering to avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.
LightCreeping Cotoneaster thrives in full sun to partial shade. The ideal location for this plant receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, which encourages healthy growth and abundant berry production. However, it will still grow reasonably well in areas with light dappled shade or morning sun followed by afternoon shade.
TemperatureCreeping Cotoneaster is hardy and adaptable, tolerating a wide range of temperatures. It can survive winter conditions with temperatures dropping as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit and is comfortable in summer temperatures up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. For optimal growth, maintaining an average temperature between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for this plant.
PruningPruning Creeping Cotoneaster is important to maintain its shape, remove dead or diseased branches, and promote denser growth. Prune the plant in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Thin out crowded branches and trim back overgrown ones to a desirable size. It's typically only necessary to prune annually, but you can also prune lightly after the berries have fallen to keep the plant tidy.
CleaningAs needed
SoilCreeping Cotoneaster thrives in well-draining soil with a mixture of loam, sand, and organic matter. It prefers slightly alkaline to neutral pH levels, around 6.5 to 7.5. A recommended soil mix would be two parts garden loam, one part coarse sand or perlite, and one part compost or peat moss to ensure fertility and drainage.
RepottingCreeping Cotoneaster should be repotted every two to three years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth. Repotting is generally best done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
Humidity & MistingCreeping Cotoneaster is adaptable to a wide range of humidity levels and does not require any special humidity considerations. It does well in average room humidity and can tolerate the drier air found in most homes without additional humidity.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright light, water thoroughly, but infrequently.
Outdoor
Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil, hardy plant.
Hardiness zone
4-8 USDA
Life cycleCotoneaster adpressus, commonly known as Creeping Cotoneaster, begins its life cycle as a seed, which after stratification, germinates in the spring. It then develops into a seedling, establishing a root system and sprouting its first leaves. As a juvenile, the plant grows rapidly, producing dense, low-lying foliage and branches, becoming a mat-forming shrub. When mature, Creeping Cotoneaster blooms in late spring or early summer, displaying small pink or white flowers which are attractive to pollinators. Following pollination, it produces small red pomes (fruit) that mature in late summer to autumn, which are then dispersed by birds and other wildlife, thus completing the life cycle as the seeds are spread to grow new plants.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
The most popular method for propagating Creeping Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster adpressus, involves the use of semi-hardwood cuttings, which is typically conducted in late summer. These cuttings should be made from the current year's growth that has started to harden but is not completely woody. The appropriate length for cuttings is about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters). Leaves on the lower third to half of the stem should be removed, and the cut end can be treated with rooting hormone to encourage root development. The prepared cuttings are then inserted into a mixture of peat and perlite or sand to facilitate drainage and provide an ideal rooting medium. By maintaining a consistent level of moisture and warmth, roots will generally develop within a few weeks. After root establishment, the new Creeping Cotoneaster plants are potted up individually and grown on until they reach a suitable size for planting out in their permanent locations.
