Cotoneaster congestus

Cotoneaster congestus is a small and compact, ground-covering bush which forms a remarkably dense ground cover. Its deciduous, medium-green foliage is composed of very small thick leaves. Its small white flowers tinged with pink which give way in summer to small and decorative, bright red berries. Its very dense vegetation limits the appearance of weeds on slopes and clears the ground at the base of larger bushes. Like many Cotoneasters, it is very undemanding in terms of soil and exposure and is suitable for all styles of gardens.

Cotoneaster congestus belongs to the rosaceae family. It is native to western China, where it grows in mixed forests covering the rocky slopes of mountains, at an altitude between 1900 and 4000 m (6233 ft 7 in and 13123 ft 5 in). It is very robust and capable of withstanding 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, reddish-brown irregular branches. Its growth is quite fast, reaching about 30 cm (11.8 in) in height and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in width at maturity. Its deciduous foliage is composed of very small thick and leathery oval leaves. They are of medium green colour and turn red in autumn before falling. The flowering takes place in May, with very small, nectar-rich flowers with 5 white petals tinged with pink which give way to bright red, fleshy fruits measuring 5 to 7 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) in diameter, appreciated by birds.

This ground-covering Cotoneaster is ideal for covering large, difficult areas of the garden to which it brings a very neat touch. While it can grow in a variety of conditions, Cotoneaster congestus does not like climates that are too hot and dry. Perfect at the base of a large hedge, it can also be planted in a rockery to fill the spaces between other plants. Plant it on a large slope, above a wall or retaining wall, at the edge of a terrace or alley. It can be associated, for example, with the creeping juniper 'Blue Star', Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety', Berberis thunb. atropurpurea 'Nana' and Forsythia intermedia 'Marée d'or'.