Cotoneaster divaricatus

Cotoneaster divaricatus, also known as spreading cotoneaster, is not the most well-known among bushes that are abundantly planted in landscaping. It is ornamental, useful for small fauna, and particularly robust. With an unusual habit, it develops a crown in the shape of a parasol over time that stands out in the garden. Its late spring flowers are nectar-rich and give way to dark red berries sought after by birds. Its deciduous foliage takes on very beautiful autumnal hues. Resistant to cold and dryness and interesting 9 months out of 12, this cotoneaster has all the qualities of an excellent hedge plant.

Costoneaster divaricatus is a bush from the Rosaceae family, just like its cousins the pyracanthas. It is native to western China and central China. This cotoneaster tolerates limestone and dry soils very well in summer. Its growth is moderately fast, it initially has sparse branches. With time, this bush forms a mass that is wider than it is tall, reaching an average height of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) and up to 5 m (16 ft 5 in) in width. Its habit is unusual, but interesting: the branches are initially erect, then they bend strongly to form a parasol-shaped crown in older subjects. The lateral branches spread gracefully in a fan shape. This cotoneaster blooms in May-June, in the form of very small nectar-rich flowers with pink-tinged white petals, grouped in 2 to 4. The flowers are followed by fruits, ripening in September-October. These are oval and cylindrical, shiny dark red berries, 1 cm (0.4 in) long, decorative and sought after by birds. The foliage of this bush is deciduous. It consists of small alternate, elliptical leaves, 1 to 2.5 cm (0.4 to 1 in) long, with a shiny dark green colour on the upper side, the underside light green and slightly downy. In autumn, they turn from dark orange to orange-brown.

Cotoneasters are highly appreciated by novice gardeners or those who don't have much time to devote to garden maintenance: they are accommodating, sturdy and decorative for a large part of the year. The Cotoneaster divaricatus can be used in shrub beds and as an informal hedge. It is a good border plant, for example in front of a grove of tall trees. Combine it with Berberis, viburnum, milky cotoneaster, Elaeagnus ebbingei, Photinias, and other cherry laurels in a large evergreen and windbreak hedge. It will provide shelter and cover for all the small fauna in the garden. It can also be an unusual specimen as a standalone plant, placed at the corner of a shrub bed or at the end of a pathway.