Cotoneaster glaucophyllus
bright bead cotoneaster
Overview
Cotoneaster glaucophyllus is an evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub 6-16 feet (2-5 m) tall with arching branches and a broad, open form. The leaves are oval, 1-2.4 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, dark green and smooth above and grey-green with a waxy bloom beneath, the underside colour giving the species its name. Flat clusters of small white flowers about 0.3 inch (8 mm) across open in late spring and early summer and are followed by dense bunches of small spherical berries that ripen from green to orange-red in autumn and persist into winter. Each berry holds two or three seeds that are spread widely by birds and foxes, the means by which the plant invades bushland. Native to southern China, it has naturalised across southeastern Australia and is listed as an environmental weed in several states. It tolerates a wide range of soils, drought, and frost once established. The seeds contain cyanogenic compounds, and large quantities of berries can be toxic if eaten.
Native Range
Cotoneaster glaucophyllus is native to southern China. It has naturalised widely in southeastern Australia and other temperate regions, spreading into open forest, woodland margins, roadsides, and disturbed bushland.Suggested Uses
Once planted as a hedge and screening shrub for its berries, it is now discouraged across southeastern Australia because it naturalises into bushland. It still appears in older gardens and as a self-sown invader of disturbed ground. In weed-prone districts it is removed and replaced with non-invasive species.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 16'
Width/Spread6' - 13'
Bloom Information
Flowers in late spring and early summer, mainly November to December in its naturalised southern Australian range, in flat clusters of small white flowers. Bees and other insects work the flowers. Orange-red berries follow in autumn and persist through winter.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark green above, grey-green beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
A hardy, adaptable shrub of sun or part shade that grows on a wide range of soils, including poor and dry ground, and tolerates both drought and frost. It needs little care once established and fruits heavily without attention, which is part of why it spreads. Birds carry the seed into bushland, so it is managed as an environmental weed rather than encouraged. Where it is removed, plants are cut and the stumps treated to prevent regrowth, and seedlings are pulled before fruiting. It regrows from the base after cutting. Fallen berries germinate readily in shaded, moist ground.Pruning
In gardens where it is retained, it is clipped after fruiting to limit size and seed spread. As a weed it is cut to the base and the stump treated to stop reshooting. Removing the berry clusters before they ripen reduces spread by birds.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons