Cultivate garden plants not only exciting, but also healthy. In case of stressful situations, it is enough to switch to caring for them and devote yourself to gardening.
Most of the plants and shrubs grown are not extraordinary. The reason lies in the reluctance to take on complex and rarely encountered flower specimens.
Among them for a long time there was cotoneaster, but every year its popularity is only increasing. This is a specific shrub that requires careful care at an early stage, but in return it can perfectly transform a garden, country house and city park, as well as cure many diseases.
Cotoneaster: its varieties and specific features
There are a huge variety of cotoneasters, but only a few are widely used. You can meet them not only in dachas and gardens, but also in central parks, where cotoneaster helps to decorate its aesthetic appearance.
Found in forests various types from China to Central Europe. You can also find it in nature reserves, where it is under heavy protection. It is characterized by increased frost resistance and sudden weather changes.
Chokeberry cotoneaster is a two-meter shrub that is distinguished by red-brown shoots and black fruits. The leaf size is no more than 5 centimeters. Their shape resembles an egg, and their color varies from green on top to white felt on the bottom.
The process of rapid flowering begins at the age of five and takes no more than 25 days. Every subsequent year everything repeats itself. This type It easily tolerates replanting, is not picky about the type of soil and can grow in the shade.
The main purpose of chokeberry cotoneaster is a decorative component. In addition, it can become a good honey plant.
Despite its resistance to all kinds of diseases and pests, you should regularly look closely at the foliage and shoots of cotoneaster in order to remove damaged elements in a timely manner.
The first enemy of cotoneaster is the green apple aphid. The first signs of infection: the leaves begin to wrinkle and the shoots begin to bend. All this can lead to their drying out.
The second dangerous enemy of cotoneaster is the apple white moth. It promotes mining of the leaf, after which patterned passages remain on it, which, although barely noticeable, can cause a lot of problems in the future.
You should also be wary of the cotoneaster mite, plum sawfly and scale insect. They are harmful not to all types of cotoneaster, but only to some of its species. If you do not pay attention to them in time, the foliage and branches are doomed to dry out.
Landscape design is the main area of application of cotoneaster. Today they create amazingly beautiful decorations for gardens, vegetable gardens, parks and city streets that attract attention for several months. The birds are also happy, because the fruits of some varieties of cotoneaster are an exquisite delicacy for them. Thus, the decorative component of the cotoneaster acquires not only picturesqueness, but also naturalness.
In an attempt to achieve greater uniqueness and double the amount of splendor when using cotoneaster, it is recommended to combine several varieties together. Given their ability to germinate in groups, they can create more dramatic beauty thanks to distinctive features, hidden in each of the varieties of cotoneaster.
Cotoneaster can also be considered useful plant, because its normalized use helps to get rid of a number of diseases of varying severity. Chronic gastritis, epilepsy, nervous disorders, jaundice and scabies - all this can be successfully treated thanks to unique properties individual species of cotoneaster.
How does the cotoneaster reproduction process occur?
Cotoneaster can reproduce in the following ways:
- Seeds.
- Cuttings (summer and winter).
- Taps.
- Dividing the bush.
This method will require incredible perseverance and attentiveness. They are extracted from ripe cotoneaster fruits. Only high-quality seeds should be selected, since only they can start the germination of cotoneaster. After the selection is completed, they must be placed in a container with water. If some seeds float, they should be removed immediately. This means they are not viable. The proportion of such unsuccessful seeds can reach 60 percent.
Be prepared for the fact that the seeds may not sprout immediately. Often you have to wait a whole year. To speed up the process of their germination, it is recommended to use the stratification method. It involves mixing clean sand and peat with seeds, as well as their subsequent moistening and moving them into special boxes or pots. The layer of the resulting mixture should be 30-40 centimeters.
In this state, the seeds should remain until the beginning of spring. It is very important to keep them at zero temperature. Seeds of most cotoneaster varieties require stratification for one or two months. In individual cases, this period may increase from 6 to 12 months.
Important note! Treating seeds with sulfuric acid for 5-20 minutes can reduce the duration of stratification to one month.
The result of such efforts is as follows: up to a 20 percent increase in seed germination.
There is another way to accelerate seed germination. To do this, it is necessary to prepare the appropriate soil for the seed boxes. It is best to use a mixture of peat, river sand and humus. Their proportions should be at the same level. You can first soak the seeds in water, which will improve their growth.
It is necessary to deepen the seeds within a centimeter, and cover the top with a layer of sand in the same volume. Watering should be done carefully and only with a watering can. Otherwise, the soil layer will be washed away and the seeds will end up on the surface. But this can be easily corrected by further deepening the seeds.
The first periods of germination should be protected from direct sunlight and cold air. To do this, it is enough to use special shields. After seedlings with developed leaves appear, they should be carefully transferred to open ground. This can be done not only next spring, but also at the end of the current season.
It is recommended to plant cotoneaster at a distance of 0.5 to 2 meters from each other. It all depends on the size of its crown and the age of the plant itself. It should be deepened to the level of the root collar. Minimum Requirements for this – 50-70 centimeters. It is highly recommended to create a 20 cm drainage from gravel or broken bricks.
Almost all types of cotoneaster do not require specific care, but some recommendations must be taken into account.
- With the arrival of spring, when serious frosts have receded, the soil needs mineral fertilizers. This may be urea, which should be diluted in water. 25 grams per bucket of water is enough.
- Before the first flowers appear, it is necessary to fertilize each square meter soil with 15 grams of potassium sulfate. Instead, you can use 60 grams of granulated superphosphate.
- It is recommended to regularly monitor the cleanliness of the soil by removing weeds.
- The regularity of watering should be set to several times a month, and its intensity should be ensured at 6-8 liters for each cotoneaster bush.
- Trim the bushes from time to time. Use your imagination and make it unique. The cotoneaster will not suffer from this in any way.
- Some types of cotoneaster may need additional protection from winter frosts. To do this, mulch the soil with peat and bend down the branches of the bush.
The main thing is to accept specific features cotoneaster and not give up useful methods that are aimed at the dynamic formation of the root system.
Although this plant is gaining popularity, it still remains a mysterious creation of nature for many people. Having seen such beauty in your garden, they will not only change their attitude towards cotoneaster, but will certainly want to decorate their garden with its help.
This video details the varieties of cotoneaster, its unique features, as well as practical planting methods. You can also highlight for yourself many useful things about caring for cotoneaster and find your own option for using it.
The branched shoots and small size of this variety of cotoneaster are its main recognizable feature. The flowers are extremely small and white in color. The period of rapid flowering begins in May and ends in June. The fruits are spherical in shape and colored red. They can be used for birdseed. The beginning of fruit ripening is late August-early September.
Cotoneaster Coral Beauty (Coral Beauty)
Cotoneaster Coral Beauty (Coral Beauty)
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster) is a non-thorny shrub plant or small tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. Many types of culture have decorative appearance and are used when decorating the local area.
Of course, despite a certain similarity in the names of the two plants, there are tangible differences, and the most important difference is that dogwood berries are edible, but cotoneaster fruits that appear in the fall are not always edible. Dogwood is a fruit and berry tree, and many varieties of cotoneasters are represented by ornamental shrubs used in landscape design.
How to plant cotoneaster (video)
Botanical description and places of growth of cotoneaster
Deciduous or evergreen, slow-growing shrub with medium-sized, simple, alternate, entire, ovate-shaped leaves. IN summer period The foliage is dark green in color and turns red in autumn.
The flowers are white or pink, small in size, solitary, collected in corymbs or racemes. Red-fruited or black-fruited cotoneaster is an original ornamental crop that grows naturally in Eurasia and North Africa.
Cotoneaster is a non-thorny shrub plant or small tree belonging to the Rosaceae family
Gallery: cotoneaster (25 photos)
Characteristics of the main types of cotoneaster
Almost all types are undemanding to soils and moisture levels, are characterized by frost resistance and gas resistance, and are also easy to mold. Two species are classified as conservation species.
Cotoneaster aronia
С.melanocarpus is popular in the middle zone of our country due to its sufficient winter hardiness. The height of the above-ground part does not exceed a couple of meters. The branches are brown with a reddish tint. The foliage is ovoid, green at the top and whitish below. Inflorescences are racemose, pink in color . After flowering, edible black fruits are formed.
Cotoneaster aronia
Cotoneaster pressed
C.adpressus is a low-growing species no more than half a meter high with a crown diameter of one meter. The branches have a creeping appearance. The foliage is relatively small, round in shape, light green in summer and scarlet in autumn. Slow growing variety reaches full height by the tenth year of life.
Cotoneaster pressed
Cotoneaster horizontal
С.horizontalis is an evergreen shrub plant no more than one meter high with a crown up to a couple of meters wide. The foliage is round in shape, with a glossy surface, green in summer and bright red in autumn. Flowers early with small whitish-pink flowers followed by bright red fruits. Popular low-growing variety Variegatus is up to 25-30 cm high with a crown up to one and a half meters in diameter. There is a white stripe on the green foliage.
Cotoneaster horizontal
Common cotoneaster
C. integerrimus - grows under natural conditions on mountain slopes, as well as sandy and calcareous soils. The height of the above-ground part is two meters. Young branches have fleecy pubescence, while mature branches are bare. The bush has a compact rounded crown with broadly ovate foliage. External side Leaves are dark green in color and glossy. Interior gray, rough. Racemose inflorescences are represented by white-pink flowers. The varietal feature is drought resistance and frost resistance.
Common cotoneaster
Cotoneaster brilliant
С.lucidus – East Siberian species, represented by an upright-growing deciduous shrub, densely covered with leaves. The above-ground part is no more than three meters high. Young branches are grayish-brown, pubescent. In late autumn, the stems acquire a reddish-brown color.. The foliage is irregularly elliptical, dark green in summer and slightly reddish in autumn.
Cotoneaster brilliant
Dummer cotoneaster
C.dammerii is a creeping type, evergreen variety, undemanding to soil, long-lived and drought-resistant. Widely used for decorating parks and squares, as well as in the landscape design of the local area.
Dummer cotoneaster
Cotoneaster vesica
C.bullatus is a deciduous shrub with a height of the aboveground part of no more than three meters. It has very characteristic dark green, glossy, wrinkled foliage. In autumn, the leaves acquire a highly decorative bright red color. The plant is characterized by insufficient winter hardiness for many regions, therefore, in particularly frosty winters it can freeze to the point of snow cover.
Cotoneaster vesica
Cotoneaster splayed
C.divaricatus is a deciduous shrub plant, no more than a meter high, with a dense crown and obovate or rounded foliage. The leaf blade is dense and shiny. A very decorative variety prefers light and fertile loams for growth and development, as well as maximally open, well-warmed areas by the sun.
Cotoneaster splayed
Hybrid cotoneaster
"Coral Beauty" - decorative and low-growing deciduous shrub, having partially creeping and partially arched, highly branched shoots. The height of the aboveground part of an adult plant does not exceed half a meter with a crown width of up to one and a half meters. The foliage is numerous, small, oval, dark green and shiny in summer, and red or reddish-purple in autumn. Small flowers, white, of five petals.
Hybrid cotoneaster
Cotoneaster
C. salicifolius is a variable, evergreen shrub plant up to 4-5 m high with curved branches and lanceolate-elliptical, oblong-elliptic, acute or pointed foliage with a wedge-shaped base. The flowers are white. After flowering, round, bright red fruits are formed.
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster entire
C.integerrimus - with erect stems up to two meters high with young pubescent shoots. The foliage is broadly ovate or rounded, with a blunt or sharp tip, and a rounded base. The upper side of the leaves is bare, dark green, matte, and the lower side is covered with whitish or grayish felt pubescence. Flowers in corymbose racemes, pinkish in color.
Cotoneaster entire
Other varieties of cotoneaster
Domestic and foreign amateur gardeners are also well aware of others, very decorative types of deciduous shrubs:
- holly (C.acutifolius);
- close (C.affinis);
- Alauan (C.alauniсus);
- low content (C. bacillaris);
- boxwood (C.buхifolius);
- Cooper (C. cooreri);
- woolen (C.flossosus);
- cellular (C.foveolatus);
- Franchetti (C.franchetii);
- cold (C. frigidus);
- Granadian (C.granatensis);
- Henry (C.henryаnus);
- Hjelmqvist (C.hjelmqvistii);
- Hammel (C. hummelii);
- Karatavian (S.karataviсus);
- milky white (C.lasteus);
- Lancaster (C.lancasteri);
- Meyer (C.meyeri);
- Mongolian (C.mongolicus);
- membranous (C.pannosus);
- Parker (C. parkeri);
- racemosa (C. racemiflorus);
- multi-flowered (C.multiflorus).
Very original is the creeping species Nanshan (C.nanshan), no more than half a meter high with dark green or reddish foliage and pink flowers.
Cotoneaster nan-shan
Options for using cotoneaster in garden decoration
Thanks to its very beautiful and original foliage, the plant is popular in garden decoration. Among other things, the crown is perfectly formed. If desired, you can independently, by pruning, form a rounded bush, as well as a hemispherical or cushion-shaped crown. The culture is perfect for decorating rocky gardens, looks original in mixed groups with conifers and decorative deciduous shrubs or flowering perennials. Can be used to decorate borders.
Choosing a place in the garden and planting technology
Many species are quite unpretentious crops, undemanding to conditions, including soil fertility and moisture. Takes root well different types soil, mountain rocky and calcareous soils. It is not recommended to plant in areas with heavy and clayey, acidic, swampy and saline soils. Loamy soil or soil mixture based on turf land and river sand, with the addition of humus or peat compost.
Seedlings are planted in open ground in the spring, after the soil has thawed, but the buds on the plant have not yet opened. The dimensions of the planting hole should be approximately 50x50x50cm. Required condition correct landing is the use of drainage based on broken bricks or gravel. The distance between planted seedlings may vary depending on species features. When forming a hedge, planting is not carried out in planting pits, and into pre-prepared trenches.
How to prune cotoneaster (video)
Features of caring for cotoneaster
The culture is unpretentious, but responsive to care, which includes basic activities represented by irrigation, fertilization, timely pruning and proper preparation for wintering.
Watering
Irrigation measures are necessary ornamental plant during particularly hot periods in the absence of precipitation. It is advisable to carry out watering according to specially made tree trunk circles irrigation ditches. After watering, shallow loosening of the soil and removal of weeds is carried out.
Top dressing
In early spring, the crop is fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, which can be considered urea, diluted in an amount of 25 g per bucket of water. Also The Kemira-universal granular fertilizer has proven itself well. During the mass flowering phase, 15 g of potassium and 60 g of superphosphate are added per square meter.
In early spring, cotoneaster is fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers
Trimming
Sanitary pruning can be performed throughout the entire growing season, and the crown should be formed and rejuvenated in the spring, before the buds open. . During the process of sanitary pruning, thickening, old or damaged branches are always removed. Pruning should only be done with well-sharpened and disinfected garden tools.
Preparing for winter
The highly decorative crop has sufficient frost resistance, so it does not require special preparation for winter period. However, in harsh winters it is recommended to mulch the soil under the bushes with peat, dry leaves or spruce branches, then bend the branches and cover them with covering breathable material.
Sanitary pruning can be performed throughout the entire growing season
Methods for propagating cotoneaster
Even novice amateur gardeners can propagate decorative perennials on their own. There are several quite accessible and simple ways reproduction.
Dividing the bush
Bush division is one of the most convenient and simplest methods of propagation. You can divide the bush in both spring and autumn. For this purpose, the plant is carefully dug up, after which root system carefully cleared of adhering earth, inspected and divided into several parts with pruning shears. Each new bush should have well-developed roots. The resulting divisions are planted in a previously prepared place, and the root collar is located at the same level with the ground when planting.
Bush division is one of the most convenient and simplest ways to propagate cotoneaster.
By layering
In the fall, you need to select the shoots of the current year, which are attached to the surface using metal brackets. The place of fixation is sprinkled with high-quality humus on top. In the spring, rooted cuttings are carefully dug up, separated from the parent bush and planted on permanent place.
Cuttings
The cutting method is used when it is necessary to obtain a large quantity at once planting material. It is best to take cuttings in June. The cuttings are placed in water with a growth stimulator for about a day. The cuttings prepared in this way are planted in a permanent place in loose and fairly light soil at an angle of 45°. It is imperative to cover the planted cuttings to create a greenhouse effect.
Root shoots
Some species form a sufficient amount of shoots, which can be used for propagation of decorative perennials. Young plants are carefully dug up and then transplanted to a separate place. In the first days after transplantation, it is advisable to shade the young plantings from the scorching rays of the sun.
Some types of cotoneaster produce a sufficient amount of shoots, which can be used for propagation of decorative perennials
Seeds
Fruit-forming ornamental shrub can be propagated by seed material, but this option is very labor-intensive, which is explained by the very low rates of seed germination. The collected berries are slightly dried and then kneaded, after which the seed material is removed, washed and placed for annual stratification. Such seeds can be planted only after a year, in nutritious and fertile soil.
Diseases and pests of shrubs
Cotoneaster in garden decor (video)
The destruction of insect pests is carried out by treatment with herbal decoctions based on shag and tobacco, with the addition of yarrow. At mass destruction are used chemical insecticides. Against pathogenic microflora, including fusarium, severe pruning is used with mandatory subsequent treatment with fungicides.
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For everyone who is planning to create a lawn on their property or in front of their house and is planning to buy grass seeds, we inform you that there is an effective alternative - the Dummer's cotoneaster plant, which is unique in many respects. Undoubtedly, emerald green grass is beautiful, but somehow ordinary and troublesome, because in order for it not to turn yellow in the heat, it needs to be watered daily, and so as not to be spoiled by inappropriately overgrown ears, it must be mowed regularly. Dummer's cotoneaster does not require such trouble. Once planted, it will delight its owner with gorgeous greenery for many years. In addition, it can be used not only for lawns, but also to create evergreen living borders, hedges, as a cover natural material, covering all the ugly places on the site. We invite you to get acquainted with the features of growing, caring for, and propagating this amazing plant, as well as some of its varieties.
Botanical description
Dummer's cotoneaster is a Rosaceae and belongs to the rose family, that is, it is a relative of the familiar apple tree, raspberry, and strawberry. It has many varieties, some of which are very tiny, no higher than 7-10 cm, others a little higher, up to 60-90, and others are almost giants, growing up to one and a half meters. The root system of all Dummer cotoneasters is branched, consisting of dozens of thin roots. The leaves are medium-sized, up to 2, less often 2.5 cm in length, either ovoid in shape with absolutely smooth edges, or having a small notch at the top and a clear vein dividing the leaf blade in half. The color of the leaves in summer is rich green, and in autumn all shades of crimson.
Dummer's cotoneaster blooms very beautifully. The photo clearly shows this. The flowering period occurs in May-June. Its small (up to one centimeter in diameter), but fragrant flowers have five petals of white or pinkish color and many stamens, which are crowned with purple anthers. The flowers open in the axils of the leaves and can grow singly or in groups of 2-3. But the most spectacular fruits of cotoneaster are those that resemble generously scattered coral beads up to 7 mm in diameter. They stay on the branches until spring.
Features of the view
Dummer's cotoneaster came to Europe from the central regions of China, where its wild thickets spectacularly entwined stone cliffs, spread along mountain slopes and hills, rising above sea level to a height of up to 4 km. It has been cultivated in European gardens since the beginning of the last century. Over such a long period of time, many varieties have been developed that are suitable for cultivation in central Russia and its northern regions. Cotoneaster can be called one of the most unpretentious ornamental crops. Almost any soil is suitable for it, it does not require watering, it is resistant to frost and drought, atmospheric pollution does not affect its viability, and it lives for about 50 years.
Using Dummer's cotoneaster in landscape design
To give your garden a beautiful look, this wonderful plant can be used in different ways depending on the variety. For example, Dummer's dwarf cotoneaster Major is ideal as a ground cover. It grows with a magnificent carpet, which is convenient for decorating uncovered areas of land, places that are not amenable to other types of landscaping. Also this and others dwarf varieties are great for decorating slopes, rock gardens and rock gardens, and when climbing up stone walls they can give original look any buildings.
Low-growing varieties, such as Dammer Eicholz cotoneaster, which can reach a height of one meter, are best suited for creating vibrant, colorful borders and hedges. They are also planted as a central element in plant compositions.
Features of propagation by seeds
Spectacular and original are the fruits that Dummer's cotoneaster produces from the beginning of September until spring. The photo shows what they look like in the snow in winter.
Each berry can have 4 or 5 seeds. Reproduction of this type of cotoneaster by seeds is not the most best option, but it is practiced quite often. It is believed that this is how the plant can best adapt to the conditions of each site. The main difficulty that gardeners face is the low germination rate of seeds, only within 20%. Another feature of them is uneven stratification. That is, some seeds sown in the fall may sprout next spring, while others will “sleep” in the ground for another year. Therefore, where cotoneaster has been sown but has not sprouted, nothing else is planted for another year.
How to sow seeds
The process of propagating Dummer's cotoneaster by seeds is as follows: harvest in the fall ripe berries, wash the seeds from the pulp and soak in cold water. After about 30 minutes, all the substandard material will float to the surface, and seeds will remain at the bottom, which can give life to new plants. Then you can go in two ways:
1. Collect suitable seeds, place in boxes with garden soil, sand and peat (1:1:1) and leave at a temperature of 0-7°C for up to 9 months. The soil should be slightly damp all the time. The emerging shoots are protected from drafts and direct sun, watered moderately and very carefully. Seedlings with 3-4 leaves are planted in open ground in early autumn or spring.
2. In autumn, the seeds are separated from the pulp, washed and sown immediately in open ground to a depth of 4 cm, watered, and a shelter like a small greenhouse is made over them to protect them from the bright sun. Shoots can appear within 2 years from the moment of sowing.
Reproduction is vegetative
Dummer's cotoneaster, planted even as a single specimen, is soon able to occupy an area with a radius of several meters. This plant not only grows, it reproduces itself, because the branches touching the ground take root well. Such “talents” are mainly shown by dwarf varieties, for example, Major, Cardinal. Medium-sized varieties, such as Dammer's cotoneaster Coral Beauty, Stockholm, are also capable of rooting on their own, but it is more convenient to propagate them by cuttings. Young green or already lignified, but always healthy and fairly powerful shoots are suitable. Green petioles are harvested in mid-summer, cutting them to such length that at least 2 internodes remain. For greater efficiency, the finished petioles are placed in a rooting agent (according to the instructions) and planted in greenhouses (not film). The soil for them should consist of humus, garden soil and sand. Add more sand on top in a layer of about 5-7 cm and moisten it. The petioles are placed at an angle in the sand, but so that their ends touch the ground. When they are well rooted, they are transplanted into the garden.
If you were unable to prepare green cuttings, you can try woody ones. To do this, at the end of autumn or the very beginning of winter, shoots are cut, placed in sand and lowered into the basement. In the spring, cuttings about 25-30 cm long are prepared from the shoots. The further process is the same as with summer cuttings.
Landing
Dummer's cotoneaster causes almost no trouble to its owners. Planting and caring for it is very simple. As noted above, it can be planted on any soil in places where it is difficult for other plants. But still, in order for the cotoneaster to grow lush and beautiful, it is advisable to meet several requirements. So, he loves the sun, but also feels good in partial shade. Optimal timing planting in open ground - early spring, until the buds open, or the second half of autumn before frost. If you plan to create a cotoneaster plant, preferably in the ground, where it will decorate the garden, drive in pegs and stretch the string, and then dig a groove along it up to 70 cm deep and up to 50 cm wide. Place the bushes in it at a distance of 35-45 cm from one another, cover with soil, which must be compacted, and watered. Despite the fact that cotoneasters are not picky about soil, it is better that the planting holes contain a mixture of coarse river sand, turf soil and peat.
Care
Dummer's cotoneaster is a real treasure for those who do not like to bother with finicky green pets or are very pressed for time, because all care for this plant consists of pruning diseased and weak shoots in early spring and watering on particularly hot days, but not more than 2 days 3 times a month. If necessary, artistic pruning of cotoneaster bushes is carried out, for example, when creating hedges. You can also feed the plant so that it is especially beautiful, more luxuriant and blooms longer. Compost and complex fertilizers, which are applied to the soil in the spring. Some gardeners advise applying fertilizers in the summer, using organic matter - bird droppings or slurry. Cotoneaster grows in such a thick carpet that it leaves no chance for weeds to get through. Therefore, as a rule, it does not require weeding.
Pests and diseases
In general, Dummer's cotoneaster almost does not get sick, but sometimes it can be affected by fusarium. In such cases, the plants are treated with fungicides, and if the damage is too severe, the diseased bushes are destroyed. Among the pests that are dangerous for cotoneaster are apple aphids, scale insects, plum sawflies, cotoneaster mites. A diseased plant becomes less attractive, the leaves wrinkle, turn yellow, and fall off. Insecticides are used to control pests.
Dummer cotoneaster Coral Beauty
This is one of the most popular varieties. It was released in 1967 in the Netherlands. Outwardly it looks like lush bush arnica up to 60 cm high with thin, hanging and creeping shoots on the ground that can take root well. The Coral Beauty variety is unusually decorative. In summer, its elliptical leaves with a distinct midrib are rich green. By mid-September they become burgundy, red-violet, and purple. Blooms this variety in the middle of spring. Its flowers densely cover the branches, creating an unusually picturesque fragrant carpet. The variety is quite frost-resistant, suitable for growing in central Russia.
Dummer's cotoneaster Major
This is one of the shortest varieties. The height of its bushes rarely reaches 15 cm, more often it rises above the ground by only 7-10 cm. This baby’s leaves are also small, oval, reaching 1-2 cm in length. In summer they are a beautiful green color, in the fall they become bright orange and purple . The flowers of Cotoneaster Major are white, bloom in late spring and last until mid-June. The berries are light red. This variety grows on any soil, including sandy and rocky, is frost-resistant, and is not particularly demanding of moisture. It only needs watering in extreme heat.
Dummer cotoneaster variety Eichholz
This is one of the relatively tall varieties, the bushes of which stretch up to 1 meter in height. But its branches are also capable of spreading along the ground. Dummer's cotoneaster Eichholz is perfect for alpine slides and rock gardens, creating various compositions, hedges. Its leaves are small, rich green in summer, red-orange in autumn. The flowers are located in the axils of the leaves and grow one at a time. They bloom in the second half of spring. The fruits of Eicholz cotoneaster are slightly oblong, orange and red. This variety loves sunny areas, is undemanding to moisture, and can easily tolerate a polluted atmosphere, but in harsh winters it requires light covering with spruce branches.
Dammer's cotoneaster variety Skogholm
Different rapid growth shoots. If in other representatives of the species the annual growth does not exceed 10-15 cm, and in some cases only 7 cm, then Dammer's cotoneaster Skogholm pleases its owners with an increase of up to 1 meter during the growing season. It also differs from its “brothers” in its taller stature. Bushes of this variety can reach a height of up to 1.5 meters. However, its shoots also manage to spread along the ground and quickly form lush carpets. The leaves of the Skogholm cotoneaster are small, up to 2 cm long, evergreen, the flowers are white, bloom in late spring, the fruits are very showy, purple-red. This variety is one of the few shrubs that can tolerate shade. Just like other cotoneasters, it is undemanding when it comes to soils and tolerates the winters of the Moscow region very well.
Cotoneaster is a beautiful shrub, loved by novice gardeners for its unpretentiousness, and by professional landscape designers for the variety of shapes and textures. A small number of varieties is not an obstacle; the plants will perfectly decorate the garden, because from the bushes you can create fences and geometric shapes in the form of balls and pyramids. Most often, the plant is used as a hedge; brilliant cotoneaster bushes are suitable for this. There are both standard and ground cover forms. In the spring, this bush is covered with small flowers, during the summer it pleases the eye with beautiful small berries of red, orange or black, and in the fall the leaves acquire a beautiful color of all shades of red.
The first to describe this plant was K. Baugin, a Swiss botanist. The name he gave it translates to “quince” and “similar.” The leaves of some species do look like quince, but that's where the similarities end. Unlike dogwood, cotoneaster fruits in most species are inedible and serve only a decorative function.
IN wildlife cotoneasters grow throughout Eurasia and North Africa. There are very frost-resistant cultivars. They colonize the mountain slopes and northern Siberia.
Describing cotoneaster, I would like to note its constancy. The plant can grow in one place for up to 50 years, forming bushes or small trees. Depending on the species, there are deciduous and evergreen representatives. The bush is densely covered with miniature ovoid leaves, the plate is solid, dark green in color, in some varieties with a white pattern.
In autumn the leaves become beautiful shades red The arrangement of the leaves is regular. The inflorescence is a raceme or corymb, formed from small white or pink flowers. After flowering, fruits are formed - green apples, and at the end of summer they become, depending on the variety, black, red, orange or brick-red. There are from 2 to 5 seeds inside the fruit. The root system is very powerful and runs close to the surface, which is why cotoneaster is often used to hold slopes.
The shape of the bush is erect or creeping. There are also small trees, the height of which does not exceed 8 - 10 meters. The wood is used for knife handles and gardening tools, tubes. Cotoneaster hedges are found in cities, squares and along roads. When describing the brilliant cotoneaster, I would like to note that it is most often used in city landscaping due to its survival rate and frost resistance. There is no need to water this plant, just wash off the dust from the leaves.
Types and varieties
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster) belongs to the Rose family (Rosaceae). About 80 species and varieties of cotoneaster are used in landscape design; they are perfect for any garden. There are varieties, such as brilliant cotoneaster, black cotoneaster, prostrate cotoneaster, common cotoneaster or entire cotoneaster, which, due to their hardiness, are widespread in the urban landscape, most often in the form of hedges.
There are also unusual varieties with shoots clinging to the ground. Dummer's cotoneaster and willow cotoneaster, thanks to their creeping shoots, lacy foliage and bright berries that can last on the branches all winter, create beautiful design. There are also rare protected varieties, such as Alunian cotoneaster, which form dwarf trees in the tundra zone on the rocky screes of the Barents Sea.
Brilliant
Cotoneaster brilliant
Cotoneaster brilliant or cotoneaster lucidus is a common urban and long-cultivated species, whose homeland is Eastern Siberia. In the wild, there are two-meter specimens that form dense thickets or grow as a single tree. Shiny cotoneaster is a deciduous plant with smooth shiny leaves, up to 5 cm in length. The leaf plate is solid, the edges are smooth. The stem is erect. Pink flowers are collected in a corymbose inflorescence.
Flowering duration is a month, from May or June. After flowering, small black fruits are formed. Since the beginning of the 19th century, the bush has been cultivated for landscaping squares and parks. A hedge of brilliant cotoneaster is part of the city landscape. Shrubs are planted along roads. Thanks to its durability, it copes well with dust and gas contamination.
Racemotaceous
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster is a tree up to 3 meters in height. The leaves are small, bluish-green. The underside of the leaf and young shoots are covered with white fluff. Inflorescence of 7-12 pale pink flowers. Flowering is abundant and begins in May. At the end of summer, bright red spherical fruits ripen. After the onset of cold weather, the fruits do not fall off. Thanks to the berries, bushes without leaves retain their decorative properties for a long time. Feels great in gardens middle zone Russia.
Multifloral
Cotoneaster multiflorum
Cotoneaster multiflorum grows in Central Asia, Western Siberia, Western China and the Caucasus. Forms the undergrowth of mixed and deciduous forests. In the wild it is protected. The plant reaches a height of 3 meters, thin young branches are covered with down. The leaves change color throughout the year: in spring they are silver-green, in summer they are green, and in autumn they turn red.
The leaf shape is ovoid, wide, up to 5 cm in length. The inflorescence is corymbose and contains from 6 to 20 large flowers. Flowering is very abundant, covers the entire bush and lasts up to 25 days. From August the bush is covered with red fruits.
The variety is less frost-resistant than the previous ones. Easily tolerates drought. Dropping him off on summer cottage It is necessary to take care of fertile soil; you can additionally enrich the soil with lime.
Coral Beauty
Cotoneaster Coral Beauty
Cotoneaster Coral Beauty is a low-growing bush that can grow up to 50 cm in height and cover an area up to 2 m wide. The bush is very spreading, capable of branching greatly. This cotoneaster is evergreen. The leaves are shiny, green, and do not exceed 2 cm. During flowering, the bush is covered with white flowers with a pleasant smell. The fruits are light red and remain on the branches until the next season.
For planting in the garden, it is better to choose a place protected from direct sunlight. Any soil is suitable, but not waterlogged. Young plants after planting need frequent watering and mulching. You can feed them with nitrogen-containing fertilizer. The bush is easy to shape; to do this, it is cut by 1/3 in March.
The bush is easily propagated by root layering and cuttings. Hybrid cotoneaster Coral Beauty is difficult to propagate on your own; it is better to purchase seeds in a store.
Alaunsky
Cotoneaster alau
The Alauan cotoneaster is found in the wild in Russia, or more precisely in the Central Russian Upland. A relatively small plant up to 1.5 m in height. In spring, the branches are covered with fluff, then become smooth and green, and closer to autumn they acquire a reddish tint. The leaves are small, oblong, ovate. The underside of the leaf is covered with fine fluff. The inflorescence is racemose, with 4-7 pale pink flowers. The fruits are 6-9 mm in diameter, black, with a bloom.
Cotoneaster Alauan is included in the Red Book and is protected in the regions of central Russia.
small-leaved
Small-leaved cotoneaster
Small-leaved cotoneaster - frosty long lasting appearance. This evergreen cotoneaster reaches a height of up to 15 cm. The leaves are small, broadly elliptical, up to 8-15 mm long, glossy. The front side is dark green, the back side is light green. Small white flowers begin to bloom in May. The fruits are orange-red, round. Perfect for a rock garden.
Felt
Cotoneaster felt
Cotoneaster tomentosa is a deciduous plant up to 1.5 m in height. Spreading branches are covered with whitish fluff. The leaf blade is light green, elliptical in shape. The corymbose inflorescence consists of pink flowers. In one place it can grow and maintain decorative look up to 20-30 years.
Cinnabar red
Cinnabar - red cotoneaster
Cinnabar-red cotoneaster is endemic to Eastern Finoscandia. Rarely found, listed in the Red Book of Russia. It grows up to one meter in height and often has the shape of a dwarf tree. Living in cold regions and on poor soils, it produces virtually no growth during the season. The leaf shape is broadly elliptical, no more than 5 cm, covered with down, upper part sheet painted in green, underside yellow-green.
The arrangement of leaves on the stem is alternate. Small flowers are colored white-green color with a pinkish edge. After flowering, round fruits of cinnabar-red color are formed. The plant prefers moist rocky river banks and scree on mountain slopes. Flowering begins in June and ends in September.
Spread
Cotoneaster splayed
Cotoneaster splayed is a spreading bush 1.5 m in height. The leaves are dark green, ovoid, no more than 2 cm long. The flowers are small, collected in threes in the axils. After flowering, rich red fruits with two seeds appear. A very hardy representative, not prone to diseases and pests. The bush blooms and bears fruit profusely, maintaining its decorative effect from May to September. At the end of summer the foliage takes on a reddish hue.
Suitable for very dry and saline soils. Capable of growing in one place for a long time, sometimes up to 40 years. Ideal for decorating hedges.
On the standard
Cotoneaster on a trunk
Cotoneaster on a trunk is a very decorative tree with beautiful flowers and berries. The height, depending on the trunk, can vary from 60 to 1.5 m. Other representatives of the Rosaceae family are used for the trunk. These can be pears, apple trees, hawthorn and rowan. Horizontal cotoneaster and atropurpurea are grafted onto the trunk, and less often other creeping varieties. Their spread out shape looks very good and is easy to shape.
Willow
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster is a creeping representative of the family with shoots that press tightly to the ground and spread up to 2 m. The plant does not rise in height above 50 cm. This variety is classified as conditionally evergreens, since the leaves do not fall off, but overwinter on the plant. The flowering is lush, with white flowers collected in a raceme-shaped inflorescence. The fruits are red in color, formed at the end of summer and remain on the bush almost all winter.
You can choose almost any place in the garden: the bush feels good both in open spaces and in partial shade. Almost any soil is suitable for it, with the exception of wetlands. Before planting in the ground, the plant must be provided with a drainage system.
rising
Cotoneaster ascending
The ascending cotoneaster has another name - adpressed cotoneaster. Found in western China. Prefers well-lit mountain slopes. It does not exceed 50 cm in height, but branches well, forming a lush bush with dark red stems. The leaves are ovoid in shape with a pointed tip and wavy edge, no more than 1.5 cm in length, fall off. The flowering period begins in May-June. The flowers are pinkish-red, no more than two in an inflorescence. In August, light red fruits ripen, spherical in shape, 7 mm in diameter.
Prefers well-moistened and fertile soils. It is not afraid of frost and direct sunlight. Easy to propagate by cuttings and layering. For propagation by seeds, stratification must be observed.
Horizontal
Cotoneaster horizontal
Cotoneaster horizontalis variegatus is common in Western and Central China. This species can be found at altitudes of 1000 - 2000 m in the mountains of China. The deciduous shrub grows up to 50–60 cm. As they grow, the branches form a dome shape. The leaves are shiny, dark green, densely covering the entire bush. In autumn they turn deep red and fall off in November. Flowering lasts less than a month, with pinkish-red flowers.
At the end of September, red fruits from 4 to 5 mm in diameter are formed. The fruits can be stored on the branches for up to 4 months. The species is unpretentious, resistant to frost and pests.
Chokeberry
Cotoneaster aronia
Chokeberry cotoneaster is resistant to unfavorable environmental factors. Feels great in an urban environment along dusty roads. The plant grows up to 2 m in height. Young plants have reddish-brown bark. The leaf is ovoid, no more than 4 cm in length. The underside of the leaf is felt-like, as are the young shoots. From May to June the bush becomes covered pink flowers of 3-15 flowers in an inflorescence. Black fruits no more than 1 cm in diameter, similar to chokeberry. Ripen in September.
A description of the aronia cotoneaster would be incomplete without noting its resistance to adverse conditions and pests.
Dammera
Dummer cotoneaster
Dummer's cotoneaster is an excellent representative miniature varieties. The bush rises up to 15 cm in height, and in width it can cover an area of up to 1 m. The leaves are dense and leathery, dark green. The flowers are inconspicuous, which is compensated greatly beautiful fruits coral red color. They remain on the branches throughout the winter. The bush is not picky about soil and space; it can be grown in containers and rockeries.
Regular or full-edged
Common cotoneaster
Common cotoneaster is a deciduous plant, up to 2 m high. Young shoots are covered with fine down, but become smooth with age. The leaves are ovate or round, green, matte, up to 5 cm long. The underside of the leaf is covered with white or grayish felt pubescence. The cotoneaster blooms in early spring, forming a corymbose inflorescence of 2-4 flowers. The fruits are bright red, spherical.
Found in the wild in the Caucasus and Western Europe. Used in landscaping since 1656. Tolerates winter and drought well.
Care
Planting and caring for horizontal cotoneaster will not cause any trouble even for a novice gardener. Despite its unpretentiousness, it is better to choose loose soil with neutral acidity. On heavy clay soils with close water, the plant most likely will not take root and will often get sick.
Planting and caring for the dummer cotoneaster is no different from other cotoneasters, but it must be taken into account that varieties of this species are less cold-resistant and do not tolerate waterlogging. Cotoneaster is a plant, planting and caring for which is not associated with special conditions. It is so undemanding that it does not even need regular watering.
Watering
The powerful roots of the plant are able to independently obtain a sufficient amount of moisture from the soil. Most varieties do not require additional watering, only at the time of planting. During very hot and dry seasons, they are sprayed with water to wash away dust. After planting, young plants are watered and mulched to retain moisture at the roots.
Trimming
Cotoneasters are ideal for pruning to form hedges and geometric shapes. New branches grow quickly, the bush becomes denser and stronger. After planting, prune by 1/3 to help the plant take root. You can also carry out rejuvenating pruning of the bush, cutting off almost the entire plant.
Top dressing
Feeding is done extremely rarely; most plants do without it. In early spring, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied, and before flowering, fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus are applied. This will help the bush bloom more luxuriantly and set more fruits. Cotoneaster is responsive to organic fertilizers: They can be added during planting by mixing them into the planting soil.
Secrets of preparing soil for seedlings
All cotoneasters are not picky about soil, but for better survival and adaptation of the plant, before planting it is advisable to make a mixture of peat, turf soil and sand in a ratio of 1:2:2. They don't like cotoneasters acidic soils. In some cases, an additional 300 grams of lime is added per plant.
Diseases and pests
Cotoneaster brilliant - persistent species. It is rarely attacked by insect pests and diseases. In rare cases, especially in hot years, aphids can be seen on bushes, spider mite and scale insects. A plant affected by aphids curls its leaves, which subsequently dry out and fall off. A web on the back of a leaf indicates a spider mite attack. Fruiting may be affected by moths. Special preparations such as Fitoverm, Neoron and Aktelik will help fight insect pests.
Cotoneasters are not susceptible to fungal diseases, and if they do get sick, it is most often fusarium. Treatment consists of removing the affected tissue and treating the entire plant with a fungicide.
How to get rid of flower midge?
Scientific name flower midge- sciarid. It does not harm the plant, it only bothers the owner of the flower. Problems with the plant may arise due to larvae living in the roots of the flower. The reason for the appearance of midges is waterlogging and a high content of organic matter in the soil due to the use folk remedies for fertilizer, for example, such as tea (infusion), coffee. Any insecticide, changing the soil or changing the watering regime will help cope with it.
Planting and propagation
Planting cotoneaster is a simple and accessible process for a novice gardener. But to receive best result, some conditions must be met.
Cotoneaster does not require additional shelter in winter. Most varieties, especially the ancestor of which was the brilliant cotoneaster, can easily tolerate severe frosts. Dummer cotoneaster is more sensitive to cold and, in the event of a severe snowless winter, needs shelter. Young plants planted this year will also have to be covered.
When and how to properly plant seedlings in the ground?
Young plants obtained from seeds are planted in open ground at 1-2 years of age. Such plants require prepared soil, abundant watering and mulching with sawdust of at least 6 cm. Cuttings from young shoots are ready for planting in a permanent place this fall. Cuttings taken from lignified branches in the fall should be placed in sand and left in a cool place throughout the winter, and planted in pots in the spring to form roots.
They propagate by layering: in the spring they press the branch to the ground, fix it, and cut it off in the fall. The plant can only be transplanted to a new location in the spring.
In order to know how to plant cotoneaster, you need to take into account its design purpose and the characteristics of the variety. In any case, you should not plant closer than 50 cm from each other.
Landing
You can plant cotoneaster in almost any area. It thrives in areas open to the sun and in partial shade. Does not take root well in places with close water. Before planting brilliant cotoneaster, you need to dig a hole or trench (if you plan to plant it for a green hedge) with a depth and width of about 50 cm. At the bottom you need to put drainage 10 - 20 cm high. You can use crushed stone or broken brick. First pour soil into the hole, consisting of 2 parts turf soil, 1 part peat (or compost), 2 parts sand. The plant is watered and fed abundantly; a root formation stimulator can be used. Special attention During planting, you need to pay attention to the location of the root collar: it should be above ground level.
Reproduction
Cotoneaster propagation is not a very complicated process, accessible even to a novice gardener. Thanks to its endurance, it quickly takes root, in almost 100% of cases.
There are several ways to propagate cotoneaster: generative (by seeds) and vegetative (including propagation by layering and cuttings).
Propagation of brilliant cotoneaster by cuttings is the fastest and affordable way. Green and lignified cuttings are used. Select healthy, strong branches, at least 15 cm in length and with at least two internodes. For cuttings, it is preferable to take shoots from side shoots. In July they were sufficiently formed to take root well. A root formation stimulator will allow you to achieve better results.
The cuttings are planted in specially prepared soil, which includes humus, turf soil and sand. The cuttings are planted in the ground at an angle of 45 degrees and to a depth of 5 cm. The soil must first be well watered. A mini-greenhouse is arranged for the cuttings, covered with jars or plastic wrap on top. The covering is regularly opened for ventilation and watering. By autumn, when a good root system has formed, the plant can be planted in open ground in a permanent place. In the first year of life, seedlings must be covered with sawdust or dry leaves.
To propagate cotoneaster, lignified cuttings are often used. To do this, with the onset of frost, they are cut off, placed in sand and left in a cool room. In spring, green cuttings are planted. Each branch must have at least 3 buds.
Another accessible method of propagating cotoneaster is propagation by layering. To do this, the soil is dug up to a depth of 50 cm, enriched with peat and humus, and a bent branch is placed above it at a height of up to 10 cm, securing it with wooden or metal brackets. Sprinkle the top with a prepared mixture of peat, humus, turf soil and sand. The procedure is carried out in the spring, and in the fall the plant can already be separated from the mother bush. It is better to replant to a new place in the spring.
Propagation by seeds is the most labor-intensive process. Seeds can be obtained from ripened fruits, dried and peeled from the pulp. To do this, the fruits are left in the sun to wilt. You can select mature seeds by immersing them in water. Any floating seeds should be discarded. Seeds that have sunk are mixed with peat or sand and placed in a container. They should be in a cool room with a temperature of about 0°. You can speed up the stratification process by treating the seeds for 5-20 minutes with sulfuric acid. After carrying out all these operations, you should not count on 100% germination. Of all the seeds, only 5-20% will sprout.
In the spring, they are evenly distributed over the surface of the container, sprinkled no more than 1 cm with loose soil or sand. Young shoots are protected from direct sunlight. After the true leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in separate pots. in autumn next year can be planted in open ground. The first year after planting, young plants must be covered with a layer of sawdust or dry leaves.
Application in landscape design
In the urban landscape, cotoneaster is used for planting as a hedge. Such varieties as brilliant cotoneaster, common cotoneaster and black-fruited cotoneaster are suitable for this. A cotoneaster hedge will provide excellent protection from dust and at the same time will not suffer from highway gas pollution. The bush easily forms, turning into dense thickets of densely woven branches. From the brilliant cotoneaster they form not only hedge: It tolerates curly haircuts perfectly, including the popular shape of geometric objects.
Dummer's cotoneaster prefers moist and nutritious soil, but it can perfectly replace an ordinary lawn in places with insufficient light. Under the canopy of trees, this species can be used to create a dense green carpet with red berries. Spread cotoneaster is suitable for forming balls and hemispheres. It can be planted in rockery loamy soils as borders. Spreading cotoneaster also looks great as a single plant against the background of a lawn. Horizontal cotoneaster in landscape design, due to its small size and evergreen leaves, is often used as a single plant. This species can also be planted as groups, forming them into various forms and supplementing them with low perennials.
In landscape design, horizontal cotoneaster is perfect for regions with harsh winters. Cotoneaster alauna is a wonderful species that could be used in landscape design. Its beautiful berries are red at first and then turn black. But currently the species is listed in the Red Book and is not widely used in culture. The cotoneaster bush remains decorative for several seasons or a whole year.
The ability of some species to retain red berries in winter makes it particularly attractive for landscape design.
