ENTIRE-LEAVED COTONEASTER

Cotoneaster integrifolius

Rose [Rosaceae]

flower

inner

petals

stem

toxicity

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

Supposedly a low-growing shrub to one metre.

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

Sprawls over rocks or walls.

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

Has crimson red berries that are both matte and large (from 7-10mm across).

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

The leaves are small dark-green and shiny on the upper surface.

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

Leaves are slightly pointed, with a slight fold along the mid-rib, and between 7 and 15mm long.

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

The leaves have a few bristly hairs on upper surface, and can look as though they form small round clusters. The fruit is a striking colour and strikingly large for a Cotoneaster.

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

Berries rarely eaten by birds.

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

Branches are alternate as well as the leaves.

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

Branches brown, and covered in appressed hairs.

22nd Oct 2011, garden opp Millstone PH, Hathersage, Derbys.

Photo: © RWD

Underside of leaves has a promounced mid-rib, is a much lighter green and covered in appressed forwardly-directed hairs.

Easily confused with : Small-Leaved Cotoneaster Cotoneaster microphyllus) which is also a low-growing shrub with slightly smaller matt crimson red berries at 5-8mm (rather than 7-10mm of Entire-Leaved Cotoneaster) and also has smaller leaves at only 5-12mm (rather than the 7-15mm of Entire-Leaved Cotoneaster).

Some similarities to : Thyme-Leaved Cotoneaster Cotoneaster thymifolius).

The berries of Cotoneasters are poisonous, causing gastroenteritis if consumed. Birds usually find Cotoneaster berries too hard, so hardly ever eat them.

Originally from the Himalayas to Western China, Entire-Leaved Cotoneaster is much more likely to be found growing in someones garden rather than in the wild, but it does indeed escape, and is said to be 'frequent' over the entire UK (although the author has never seen it!). The flowers are large for the leaves, at c.11mm across, and white with purple anthers.

ANY TEXT GOES HERE

Distribution
family8Rose family8Rosaceae

BSBI maps

Cotoneaster