Cotoneaster horizontalis ‘Variegatus’ – This is the beautiful variegated selection of the Rockspray Cotoneaster. It is a deciduous all-season plant in full sun. Beautiful white-edged green cupped leaves, like a library full of miniature half-opened books, pick up pink tones in autumn. Small pink buds in spring open to tiny pink-tinged white flowers. These cute little flowers develop into berries which turn bright red come autumn. When the foliage drops you are left with these red fruits on a refined herring bone branching pattern. This deciduous ground cover with its amazing array of gently arching branches will grow up to 2’ tall but 5’ to 7’ in diameter. I have also seen this plant used to great effect trained-up against the side of a building. Especially beautiful after light snowfall with delicate embroidery of snow clinging to the fine ribbing of the branches, this is an extraordinary moment in the winter garden. Cutting grown.
Cotoneaster (pronounced Cuh-toe-nee-AZ-tuhr) as a genus has been ignored in recent years. I have found it odd that plants go in and out of fashion. From my humble standpoint a good plant is a good plant in any generation. Some Cotoneasters are virtually evergreen, others deciduous. Most have terrific fall foliage color. All have pretty flowers usually followed by a beautiful fruit set – many hold fruit well into winter. They are good wildlife plants for many species of birds relish the fruits. They prefer fertile soil but demonstrate moderate drought tolerance once settled in. However, if you cheat these members of the Rosaceae too much they will languish. All of our offerings are cutting grown.