Cotoneaster bullatus var. floribunda Hollyberry Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster has historically been one of those plants I simply walk by in collections and generally write off as "twiggy debris trap" and "pest and disease magnets". That is until I stumbled upon this magnificent plant in the Montreal Botanic Gardens which changed my perception of some members of this group. Cotoneaster bullatus var. floribunda is a large shrub reaching 12' tall when mature. The arching branches are quite graceful and cloak themselves with extremely glossy oval leaves prominently presented with corrugated impressed veins. In the spring garden the branches drip with masses of loose, pale pink and white flowers which transition to crops of scarlet-red fruit that persist into autumn. The fruit display is notable as the display is not unlike our native winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) and is a nice complement to the fall color which is also magnificent shades of scarlet and orange. Plants are easy to grow in sun-drenched average garden soils and have shown few pest or disease issues in our collections over the past 10 years. We love it and hope you'll give it a try!