Cotoneaster lacteus, the late cotoneaster or milkflower cotoneaster, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Cotoneaster of the family Rosaceae, native to the Yunnan Province of China. It is a large evergreen shrub growing to 4m (13feet) tall and wide. Clusters of white flowers are followed by masses of small, globose, red fruits (pomes) in autumn.[1] Unusually for this genus, the fruits are avoided by birds, hence garden escapes are rare, and the fruit persists on the plant throughout the winter.[2]
The Latin specific epithet lacteus refers to the milk-white flowers.[3]
Cotoneaster lacteus may be grown as a hedge. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4]