Cotoneaster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cotoneaster |
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| Cotoneaster frigidus foliage and fruit | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amygdaloideae |
| Tribe: | Maleae |
| Subtribe: | Malinae |
| Genus: | Cotoneaster Medik. |
| Species | |
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Cotoneaster (say: koh-toh-NEE-ass-ter) is a group of flowering plants that belong to the rose family. These plants are naturally found in many parts of the world, including temperate Asia, Europe, and North Africa. You can find a lot of different Cotoneaster types in the mountains of southwestern China and the Himalayas. They are related to other well-known plants like hawthorns, firethorns, and rowans.
There are many different kinds of Cotoneaster – some experts say there are about 70 species, while others count up to 300! This is because some types are very similar, and scientists sometimes disagree on whether they are separate species or just variations of one.
Most Cotoneaster plants are shrubs, which are like bushy plants, usually growing from about 1.5 to 16 feet (0.5 to 5 meters) tall. Some grow low to the ground, while others stand upright. A few types, like C. frigidus, can even grow into small trees, reaching up to 50 feet (15 meters) tall! The ones that grow close to the ground often live in high mountain areas, like the Himalayas, where they can be found at elevations of 9,800 to 13,000 feet (3,000 to 4,000 meters). Larger Cotoneaster plants usually grow in forests or open areas at lower elevations.
Contents
What Cotoneaster Plants Look Like
Cotoneaster plants have two main types of branches. Long branches (4 to 16 inches or 10 to 40 cm) help the plant grow bigger, while shorter branches (0.2 to 2 inches or 0.5 to 5 cm) are where the flowers appear. This often makes the branches look like a "herringbone" pattern.
Their leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are usually oval or spear-shaped and can be from 0.2 to 6 inches (0.5 to 15 cm) long. Some Cotoneaster types keep their leaves all year round (evergreen), while others lose them in the fall (deciduous).
The flowers bloom in late spring to early summer. They can grow alone or in clusters of up to 100 flowers. Each flower is small, about 0.2 to 0.4 inches (5 to 10 mm) wide, and has five petals. Their colors range from white to creamy white, light pink, dark pink, or even almost red.
After the flowers, small, round fruits called pomes grow. They are about 0.2 to 0.5 inches (5 to 12 mm) wide. These fruits can be pink, bright red, orange, maroon, or black when they are ripe. Inside, they usually have one to three seeds, but sometimes up to five. On some types of Cotoneaster, the fruits stay on the plant until the next year!
How Cotoneaster Helps Wildlife
Cotoneaster plants are very important for many animals. Their leaves are a food source for the larvae (caterpillars) of several Lepidoptera species, which include moths like the grey dagger and winter moth.
The flowers are a big hit with bees and butterflies because they provide lots of nectar. In places like the UK and Ireland, Cotoneaster is especially valuable for bees during the "June gap," which is a time when other flowers are scarce. Bees absolutely love Cotoneaster!
The bright red berries are also a favorite food for birds, especially blackbirds and other thrushes.
Growing Cotoneaster Plants
Cotoneaster plants are very popular in gardens because they look nice and have colorful fruits. There are many different types, some of which are special mixes created by gardeners. For example, 'Waterer's cotoneaster' is a popular type.
These plants are also used to create bonsai trees. Bonsai is the art of growing miniature trees in containers. Cotoneaster is great for bonsai because it's tough, can produce flowers and fruit, and has small leaves, which is perfect for tiny trees.
Many Cotoneaster types have won awards for being excellent garden plants. Some of these include:
- Cotoneaster atropurpureus 'Variegatus'
- Cotoneaster conspicuus 'Decorus'
- Cotoneaster 'Cornubia'
- Cotoneaster lacteus
- Cotoneaster procumbens 'Queen of Carpets'
- Cotoneaster 'Rothschildianus'
- Cotoneaster salicifolius 'Gnom'
- Cotoneaster salicifolius 'Pink Champagne'
- Cotoneaster sternianus
- Cotoneaster × suecicus 'Coral Beauty'
- Cotoneaster × suecicus 'Juliette'
When Cotoneaster Can Be a Problem
While many Cotoneaster species are great for gardens, some have escaped and started growing wildly in new places. When a plant grows where it's not native and causes harm to the environment, it's called an invasive weed. This can happen when the weather conditions are just right for them.
For example, many Chinese Cotoneaster species have become invasive in northwestern Europe. C. glaucophyllus is an invasive weed in Australia and California. In New Zealand, C. simonsii is even on a list that stops people from selling or distributing it because it spreads so easily. On Portland, an island in the UK, this plant is regularly removed to protect the natural environment.
About the Name
The name Cotoneaster comes from a Latin word, cotoneum, which means "quince" (another type of fruit tree), and the ending -aster, which means "resembling." So, it means "resembling a quince."
Scientists often group Cotoneaster plants into different sections based on their features:
- Cotoneaster sect. Cotoneaster: These usually have flowers that grow alone or in small groups (up to 6). Their petals point forward and are often pink. These are mostly smaller shrubs.
- Cotoneaster sect. Chaenopetalum: These have more flowers, often more than 20, growing in larger clusters. Their petals open flat and are usually creamy white. These are mostly larger shrubs.
Images for kids
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Cotoneaster frigidus foliage and fruit
See also
In Spanish: Cotoneaster para niños
