Cotoneaster praecox Boer

Cotoneaster praecox 'Boer' is a variety of cotoneaster with particularly early fruiting, as early as August, in the form of small, round, red-orange fruits. This bushy plant forms a remarkably dense ground cover, reaching a height of about 60 cm (23.6 in) and a spread of 3 m (9 ft 10 in). Its deciduous, dark green foliage is composed of very small, thick leaves. Its small white flowers tinged with pink appear in May. Its dense vegetation limits the growth of weeds on slopes and covers the area around larger bushes. Like many Cotoneasters, it is very undemanding in terms of soil and exposure, and is suitable for all styles of gardens.

Cotoneaster praecox belongs to the large Rosaceae family and is native to western China. Very robust, it can withstand harsh winters and occasional droughts, even when growing in poor, rocky soil. The 'Boer' cultivar has a prostrate, spreading and creeping habit, supported by curved and flexible, irregular, reddish-brown branches. It grows fairly quickly, reaching a height of about 60 cm (23.6 in) and a spread of 3 m (9 ft 10 in) at maturity. Its deciduous foliage is composed of very small, thick and leathery oval-shaped leaves. They are fairly dark green and turn red in autumn before falling. Flowering takes place in April-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, as early as August. They are highly appreciated by birds.

This ground-covering cotoneaster is ideal for covering large, difficult areas of the garden, bringing a very neat touch to them. While it can grow in a variety of conditions, Cotoneaster praecox 'Boer' does not appreciate hot and dry climates. Perfect at the foot of a tall 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 path. It can be paired, for example, with the creeping juniper 'Blue Star', Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety', Berberis thunb. atropurpurea 'Nana', and Forsythia intermedia 'Marée d'or'.