Cotoneaster adpressus

Cotoneaster adpressus is a vigorous creeping bush, with strong growth, forming a remarkably dense ground cover. Its deciduous foliage is light green and vibrant in spring, darkening somewhat in summer before turning a beautiful red in autumn. Its small white flowers tinged with red give way to bright red berries in summer, which are quite decorative. Its very dense vegetation limits the appearance of weeds on slopes and covers the ground at the base of larger shrubs. Like many Cotoneasters, it is very undemanding in terms of soil and exposure and is suitable for all styles of gardens.

Cotoneaster adpressus belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is native to western China, where it grows in mixed forests that cover rocky slopes of mountains, at an altitude between 1900 and 4000 m (6233 ft 7 in and 13123 ft 5 in). This bush has been praised in England by the Royal Horticultural Society for its ornamental qualities and performance in the garden. It is very robust and capable of withstanding very harsh winters and occasional droughts, even when growing in poor, rocky soil. It has a prostrate, spreading and creeping habit, supported by curved and flexible, irregular, reddish-brown, branches, hairy when young, then greyish to almost black and smooth as they age. Its growth is quite rapid, reaching a height of about 35-40 cm (13.8-15.7 in) with a spread of 2 m at maturity. Its deciduous foliage consists of small, thick and leathery leaves, ovate in shape, not exceeding 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in length and 1 cm (0.4 in) in width. They are light green when they emerge, darken over time, and turn red in autumn before falling. Flowering occurs in May, with very small, nectar-rich flowers with 5 white petals tinged with red that give way to bright red, fleshy fruits measuring 5 to 7 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) in diameter, appreciated by birds.

This creeping cotoneaster is ideal for covering large areas in difficult areas of the garden, where it brings a very tidy touch. While it can grow in a variety of conditions, Cotoneaster adpressus does not appreciate hot and dry climates. Perfect at the base of a tall hedge, it can also be planted in a rock garden to fill the spaces between other plants. Plant it on a large slope, above a wall or retaining wall, at the edge of the terrace or a pathway. For example, it can be associated with the creeping juniper 'Blue Star', Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety', Berberis thunb. atropurpurea 'Nana' and Forsythia intermedia Marée d'or 'Courtasol'.