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| ## COtoneaster {#cotoneaster .Title-Header}                           |
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| *Cotoneaster integerrimus* Medik.                                     |
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| Plant Symbol = COIN16                                                 |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.886111111111111in"
height="1.9166666666666667in"}

##### Alternate Names  {#alternate-names .Header-3}

##### *Cotoneaster cotoneaster, Cotoneaster vulgaris*, European cotoneaster, great orme berry, *Mespilus cotoneaster*, *Ostinia cotoneaster*, quan yuan xun zi (Chinese), skalnik obecny (Czech), wild cotoneaster, zwergmispel (German).  {#cotoneaster-cotoneaster-cotoneaster-vulgaris-european-cotoneaster-great-orme-berry-mespilus-cotoneaster-ostinia-cotoneaster-quan-yuan-xun-zi-chinese-skalnik-obecny-czech-wild-cotoneaster-zwergmispel-german. .Header-3}

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Conservation:* The USDA NRCS recommends cotoneaster for use in
windbreak plantings on farmsteads and along transportation,
transmission, and recreation corridors.

*Wildlife:* Many bird species consume cotoneaster fruit in autumn. The
plant also offers protection and habitat to small wildlife species.

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Rose Family (Rosaceae). Cotoneaster is a multi-branched shrub
with a broad crown. It is 2 m tall at maturity. The branchlets are
grayish brown, covered with dense hairs, becoming more glabrous at
maturity. Leaves are simple, alternate, broadly ovate to almost
circular, 2 to 4 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide. They are gray-green above,
gray pubescent below, and are untoothed. Buds are brown to pale gray and
less than 1 cm long. Two to five flowers are borne

on inflorescences that are 1.5 to 2.5 cm long. The flowers are
pinkish-white and approximately 8 mm in diameter. The fruit is a dark
red berry, 6 to 8 mm in diameter. Cotoneaster blooms in May and June and
sets fruit in August and September.

*Distribution*: Cotoneaster is native to Europe and temperate regions of
Asia. Its native status in China is debated and has been documented as
unknown by some sources.

*Habitat*: The natural habitats of cotoneaster are rocky slopes and
forests at elevations below 2500 meters.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

The recommended USDA hardiness zones for cotoneaster are 3 through 5.
Cotoneaster prefers soils that are moist and have a pH range of 5.0 to
7.5. The "North Dakota Tree Handbook" states that cotoneaster is not
adapted to alkaline soils (as well as saline soils), but other sources
suggest that alkaline soils are preferred. It is adapted to a variety of
soil textures. Growth is slow on very dry and poorly drained soils.
Cotoneaster does well in full and partial sun.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

Fireblight is a common problem among cotoneaster plants. It is caused by
the bacterium, *Erwinia amylovora*. New plant growth is black and
curved. Smooth bark will crack while older growth will develop cankers.
The cankers may cause death. The disease is prompted by heavy rainfall
followed by warm, hazy weather. Nitrogen fertilization, late season
fertilization, poor soil drainage, and over-watering promote
susceptibility to fire blight.

##### Pear slugs are common insect pests that chew cotoneaster leaves, giving plants a skeletonized appearance. Damaged leaves fall prematurely. Pear slug infestations leave cotoneaster unattractive, but do not affect plant health. {#pear-slugs-are-common-insect-pests-that-chew-cotoneaster-leaves-giving-plants-a-skeletonized-appearance.-damaged-leaves-fall-prematurely.-pear-slug-infestations-leave-cotoneaster-unattractive-but-do-not-affect-plant-health. .Header-3}

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

To reduce the risk of fireblight infection, do not plant cotoneaster
near ornamental or orchard apple trees. Although there is no chemical
treatment available, sanitary culture conditions can manage fireblight
spread. Prune diseased twigs and remove plants with large cankers.
Disinfect pruning tools. Apply sprays that contain fixed copper during
bloom-time to prevent infection. Remove suckers from the base of the
plant.

Pear slug infestation is controlled with insecticides labeled for
caterpillars or leaf beetles, or by using a jet of water to remove the
slugs. Wood ashes kill pear slugs.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

The USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center released the cultivar 'Centennial'
cotoneaster in 1987 for conservation use in the Great Plains.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

##### References {#references .Header-3}

##### Agricultural Research Center. 2004. *GRIN taxonomy* (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/index, 19 June 2004). USDA, Beltsville. {#agricultural-research-center.-2004.-grin-taxonomy-httpwww.ars-grin.govcgi-binnpgshtmlindex-19-june-2004.-usda-beltsville. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Cranshaw, W.S. and D.A. Leatherman. 1986. *Pear slugs* (http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/IPM/ento/ j560.html, 23 June 2004). Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, Fort Collins. {#cranshaw-w.s.-and-d.a.-leatherman.-1986.-pear-slugs-httpwww.colostate.edudeptsipmento-j560.html-23-june-2004.-colorado-state-university-cooperative-extension-fort-collins. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### Devonian Botanic Garden. 2004. *Woody perennials* (http://www.discoveredmonton.com/devonian/seedwood.html, 19 June 2004). University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada. {#devonian-botanic-garden.-2004.-woody-perennials-httpwww.discoveredmonton.comdevonianseedwood.html-19-june-2004.-university-of-alberta-alberta-canada. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association, Alberta Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development. 1997. *ArborCare Library* (http://www.arborcare.com/library/fireblight.html, 23 June 2004). Arbor CARE Tree Service Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada. {#landscape-alberta-nursery-trades-association-alberta-agriculture-food-and-rural-development.-1997.-arborcare-library-httpwww.arborcare.comlibraryfireblight.html-23-june-2004.-arbor-care-tree-service-ltd.-calgary-alberta-canada. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-4 .Header-3}

##### Tree Information Center. 1996. *North Dakota tree handbook* (http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/ aginfo/trees/handbook/ndhand-1.htm, 19 June 2004). North Dakota State University, Fargo. {#tree-information-center.-1996.-north-dakota-tree-handbook-httpwww.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu-aginfotreeshandbookndhand-1.htm-19-june-2004.-north-dakota-state-university-fargo. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-5 .Header-3}

##### USDA NRCS. 2002. *NC-7 woody ornamental evaluation trials: 1989 accessions* (http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/MidWest/Ames/Ornamental_Trials/index.html, 19 June 2004). North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames. {#usda-nrcs.-2002.-nc-7-woody-ornamental-evaluation-trials-1989-accessions-httpwww.ars-grin.govarsmidwestamesornamental_trialsindex.html-19-june-2004.-north-central-regional-plant-introduction-station-ames. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-6 .Header-3}

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E. et al. 1996. North Dakota tree
handbook. USDA NRCS ND State Soil Conservation Committee; NDSU Extension
and Western Area Power Admin., Bismarck.

#####  {#section-7 .Header-3}

##### Zhengyi, W. and P. Raven. 1994. *Flora of China*. Science Press, Bejing, China, and Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. {#zhengyi-w.-and-p.-raven.-1994.-flora-of-china.-science-press-bejing-china-and-missouri-botanical-garden-st.-louis. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-8 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

*Sarah Wennerberg*

Formerly USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

#####  {#section-9 .Header-3}

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Mark Skinner*

##### USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana {#usda-nrcs-national-plant-data-center-baton-rouge-louisiana .Header-3}

##### Edited: 25June2004 sbw; 20Oct2004 rln; 05jun06 jsp {#edited-25june2004-sbw-20oct2004-rln-05jun06-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*