Cotoneaster salicifolius explained

Cotoneaster salicifolius, the willow-leaved cotoneaster, is a drought-tolerant, evergreen to semi-evergreen, low-lying, small to medium-sized shrub with an arched branching habit. Specimens growing in the wild, however, are generally larger, averaging five meters in height. Although native to the mountains, mixed forests, and open places in western China, it is commonly cultivated in temperate climates worldwide. Cultivars have been bred in a variety of forms, as ornamental groundcovers or shrubs.

Description

The bark of the willow-leaved cotoneaster is gray-brown, its stems are thin, and its root system is sparse.^[1]

The leaves are alternate, simple, long, lanceolate, dark green and resemble those of willow trees (thus the common name), and have fine gray hairs on their undersides.^[1] The scientific name 'salicifolius', described by the botanist Franchet, means 'with leaves like willows' (see: Genus Salix). During the colder months, they turn maroonish in color.^{[1] [2]}

In June it bears many flowered, compound corymbs of white, 5–6 mm flowers.^[3] The fruit grow as small, showy, apple-like, red pomes, ripening in September to October, and enduring into the winter.^{[2] [4]}

The diploid chromosomal number is 34 (2n=34).^[3]

Cultivation

Depending on the characteristics of the cultivar, the Willow-leaved Cotoneaster can be used as a hedge or screen; a bank cover; in small groupings or large masses; or anywhere its colorful fall foliage or bright red fruit would direct the eye towards a focal point, or serve as a centerpiece in a garden setting.^[1]

Pests

Cotoneaster salicifolius is susceptible to bouts with leaf spot, scale insects and spider mites.^[1] It is also considered highly susceptible to the Enterobacteria fire blight^[1] and has been used as a test species to trial new methods of control.^{[5] [6]} In parts of Europe where fire blight was previously unknown, cultivated specimens of this species are among the first plants identified as infected.^[7]

List of cultivars

This plant has many cultivars, ranging from tiny groundcovers to large shrubs, which include:-

• 'Angustus'
• 'Autumn Fire' or 'Herbstfeuer' (German): it grows 2 to 3 feet tall^[2]
• 'Avonbank'
• 'Avondrood': equivalent to, or thought to be equivalent to 'Repandens' and 'Repens'^{[1] [8]}
• 'Dekor'
• 'Dortmund': thought to be equivalent to 'Repandens' and 'Repens', and possibly to 'Avondrood'^{[1] [8]}
• 'Emerald Carpet' or 'Green Carpet': a cultivar with denser than average foliage, it is similar to 'Repens'^{[1] [2]}
• 'Exburyensis'
• 'Floccosus'
• 'Gnom' or 'Gnome': it grows 8 to 12 inches tall^[2]
• 'Henryanus'
• 'Herbstfeuer' (German) or 'Autumn Fire': a cultivar that virtually lies on the ground and stands less than a foot high^[4]
• 'HQ' : similar to "Repens"^[1]
• 'Klampen'
• 'Moner': developed in Monrovia, it is thought to be the same as 'Emerald Carpet'. It grows about a foot high, and spreads 6 to 8 feet, with a compact growth habit.^[4]
• 'Mlynany
• 'October Glory'
• 'Parkteppich'
• 'Pendulus' or 'Hybridus Pendulus'
• 'Perkeo'
• 'Pink Champagne'
• 'Red Flare'
• 'Repens' or 'Repandens' or 'Avondrood': this cultivar grows low to the ground to about 2 feet high and 8 feet wide with glossy leaves that may be semi-evergreen during excessively cold winters, but evergreen in warmer climes^{[1] [4]}
• 'Rothschildianus'
• 'Rugosus' or 'Hylmoei'
• 'Saldam'
• 'Salicifolius'
• 'Scarlet Leader': this popular, disease-resistant cultivar is ground-hugging and makes a good groundcover. In the autumn the dense, green foliage russets. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall, and 6 to 8 feet wide.^{[1] [2] [4]}
• 'September Beauty'
• 'Sympatie'
• 'Valkenburg'
• 'Willeke'

Additional list sources : ^{[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}

The cultivars 'Gnom',^[15] 'Pink Champagne',^[16] and 'Rothschildianus'^[17] have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cotoneaster salicifolius . Mark H. Brand . University of Connecticut Plant Database . June 15, 2001 . March 24, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080705190953/http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/c/cotsal/cotsal3.html . July 5, 2008 .
2. Web site: Ground Covers: Cotoneaster salicifolius . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110606144557/http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/groundcover/cotoneaster_salicifolius.html . dead . June 6, 2011 . Erv Evans-Consumer Horticulturist . North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service . March 24, 2009 .
3. Web site: Cotoneaster salicifolius . . March 24, 2009.
4. Web site: Cotoneaster salicifolius -- Willowleaf Cotoneaster . https://web.archive.org/web/20051101114407/http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00000447.html . dead . November 1, 2005 . Michigan State University Extension . January 19, 2000 . March 24, 2009 .
5. Web site: Studies on Biological Control of Fire Blight. www.actahort.org. 2009-03-28.
6. http://www.actahort.org/books/489/489_100.htm Control of Fire Blight with Plant Extracts based on Resistance Induction.
7. Web site: First Record of Fire Blight (erwinia amylovora) in Austria Preliminary Experiments on the Survival on Fruit Boxes. www.actahort.org. 2009-03-28.
8. Web site: PlantIndex: Planten Geslacht Cotoneaster (pp.6) . Compiled by R.Koot . Plantago . March 25, 2009.
9. Web site: PlantIndex: Planten Geslacht Cotoneaster (pp.1) . Compiled by R.Koot . Plantago . March 25, 2009.
10. Web site: PlantIndex: Planten Geslacht Cotoneaster (pp.3) . Compiled by R.Koot . Plantago . March 25, 2009 .
11. Web site: PlantIndex: Planten Geslacht Cotoneaster (pp.4) . Compiled by R.Koot . Plantago . March 25, 2009 .
12. Web site: Cotoneaster salicifolius, Cotoneaster a feuilles de saule. . Jardin!L'Encyclopedie . Plantencyclo.com ; la Societe des Gens de Lettres . March 24, 2009.
13. Web site: Cotoneaster salicifolius var. angustus . Flora of China . March 24, 2009 .
14. Web site: Cotoneaster salicifolius var. henryanus . Flora of China . March 24, 2009 .
15. Web site: "Cotoneaster salicifolius" 'Gnom' . RHS . 5 May 2020.
16. Web site: Cotoneaster salicifolius 'Pink Champagne' . RHS . 5 May 2020.
17. Web site: Cotoneaster 'Rothschildianus' . RHS . 5 May 2020.