Creeping Cotoneaster Makes a Grand Ground Cover

If you are looking for a ground cover in full to partial sun conditions, consider the shrub, Creeping Cotoneaster. The botanical name is Cotoneaster adpressus. This shrub is hardy in zones 4 to 6. This cotoneaster reaches a height of 1-2 feet with a spread of 4-6 feet. Roots will form where the branches touch the ground which means the planting will become more dense over time. This species does well is both moist and dry soils, but the area should be well drained. It is also wind resistant which adds to its usefulness in the landscape.

The leaves are small, 1/4-5/8 inches. They are dark green in the growing season and become a purplish red in the fall.

A small pink flower opens in the spring, and a dark red berry fruit forms in late summer and stays on the plant into late winter.

The dense branching of this shrub makes it ideal for mass planting. The low height makes it a good border plant choice. It is seen growing against the risers on stairs, as the front border of an all green plant display, in rock gardens where the branches adopt a draped effect, and as a foundation plant against a building or fence.

Plan to feed the shrub once a year, in early spring, with a slow release fertilizer. Do not over-apply nitrogen which can make the woody stems weak. The shrub is susceptible to spider mites, scale insects, and fireblight.

Fireblight can appear on the flower, fruit, or stem of the plant. The disease will spread toward the soil and a canker may appear on the woody tissue. The diseased portion of the plant should be cut away approximately 6 inches below the canker during the growing season on a dry day. The diseased portions should be wrapped and placed in the trash rather than the compost pile. The disease can spread to other parts of the plant by insects or by splashing water.

Spider mites can often be removed by giving the plant a heavy spray with water from the garden hose. Insecticidal soap may be necessary if the infestation is more severe. Be sure to read, understand, and follow the application and safety directions on the soap.

Scale insects are easiest to deal with just after eggs hatch because they have no protective covering. Treat with insecticidal soap. Be sure to read, understand, and follow the application and safety directions on the soap.

A variety of creeping cotoneaster is praecox. This shrub is similar is appearance with a height of 1-1.5 ft. tall and a spread of 4-6 feet. Some plantsmen believe the Cotoneaster praecox to have a more lush fruit display.

Both the adpressus and praecox varieties are native to Western China.

Sources
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/ShrubSelector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=379, University of Illinois Urbana Extension
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1019.html, University of Minnesota Extension