Cotoneaster splendens (Cotoneaster splendens)
Description
Cotoneasters are used ornamentally in shrub borders or as hedges and come in a range of forms and varieties, from deciduous to evergreen and from large shrubs to dwarf plants.Cotoneaster splendens originates from China, and is rounded with arching branches that bear glossy green leaves. White flowers with soft pink margins appear in late-spring, followed by bright orange fruit. The flowers are a magnet for bees and the berries are eaten by birds.Many species of cotoneaster are highly invasive and some are now listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in England and Wales, banned from sale in garden centres. Cotoneaster splendens is not on the banned list but if you live in a rural area where the plant could escape from your garden (such as if a bird eats the berries and distributes the seed) it's advisable to choose an alternative plant, such as hawthorn, which is native to Britain and not invasive.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Rosales
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Family: Rosaceae
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Genus: Cotoneaster
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