Cotoneaster

The Cotoneaster genus includes over 100 species of evergreen and deciduous unpretentious shrubs or small trees. The leaves are simple regular whole-edged. Many species are very decorative - in spring during flowering and in autumn, covered with bright red foliage and fruits. The flowers are small, white or pink, solitary or in corymbs. Small red or black fruits ripen by autumn and do not fall off for a long time. There are many types and varieties of dogwood trees. Cotoneaster congestus (Cotoneaster congestus) is a dwarf evergreen shrub with bright green leaves and pink flowers that bloom in June and form red spherical fruits in their place. This plant is used both in borders and as a groundcover. Cotoneaster Franche (C. franchetii) is a very lush (up to 3 m in height) evergreen shrub with characteristic curved branches and gray-green oval leaves. In June, white and pink flowers bloom, followed by egg-shaped orange-red fruits. Used in hedges. Dogwood horizontal (C. horizontalis) is a low-growing deciduous shrub with broad oval dark green glossy leathery leaves that turn red in autumn and pink flowers. Red-coral fruits have a spherical shape. It is used as a ground cover and for covering walls. Cotoneaster milky (C. lacteus) is an evergreen shrub, especially suitable for hedges. It has leathery dark green oval leaves and cream-colored flowers that bloom in June and July. Small red fruits have a round-egg shape. Small - leaved cotoneaster (C. microphyllus) is a small evergreen creeping shrub; due to its extensive surface root system, it is widely used for securing slopes. The leaves are oval glossy dark green. In the period from April to June, white flowers bloom, and then spherical scarlet-red fruits are formed in a variety. Cotoneaster rotundifolius is an erect, semi-evergreen shrub that loses its foliage at very low temperatures, with oval glossy leaves and pink flowers. It is used in hedges. Cotoneaster (S. salicifolius) is a shrubby groundcover plant. Its characteristic oval-lanceolate leaves resemble willow leaves. In June, it is covered with white flowers, and later with red glossy fruits.

The Cotoneaster genus includes over 100 species of evergreen and deciduous unpretentious shrubs or small trees. The leaves are simple regular whole-edged. Many species are very decorative - in spring during flowering and in autumn, covered with bright red foliage and fruits. The flowers are small, white or pink, solitary or in corymbs. Small red or black fruits ripen by autumn and do not fall off for a long time. There are many types and varieties of dogwood trees.

Cotoneaster congestus (Cotoneaster congestus) is a dwarf evergreen shrub with bright green leaves and pink flowers that bloom in June and form red spherical fruits in their place. This plant is used both in borders and as a groundcover.

Cotoneaster Franche (C. franchetii) is a very lush (up to 3 m in height) evergreen shrub with characteristic curved branches and gray-green oval leaves. In June, white and pink flowers bloom, followed by egg-shaped orange-red fruits. Used in hedges.

Dogwood horizontal (C. horizontalis) is a low-growing deciduous shrub with broad oval dark green glossy leathery leaves that turn red in autumn and pink flowers. Red-coral fruits have a spherical shape. It is used as a ground cover and for covering walls.

Cotoneaster milky (C. lacteus) is an evergreen shrub, especially suitable for hedges. It has leathery dark green oval leaves and cream-colored flowers that bloom in June and July. Small red fruits have a round-egg shape.

Small - leaved cotoneaster (C. microphyllus) is a small evergreen creeping shrub; due to its extensive surface root system, it is widely used for securing slopes. The leaves are oval glossy dark green. In the period from April to June, white flowers bloom, and then spherical scarlet-red fruits are formed in a variety.

Cotoneaster rotundifolius is an erect, semi-evergreen shrub that loses its foliage at very low temperatures, with oval glossy leaves and pink flowers. It is used in hedges.

Cotoneaster (S. salicifolius) is a shrubby groundcover plant. Its characteristic oval-lanceolate leaves resemble willow leaves. In June, it is covered with white flowers, and later with red glossy fruits.

Cultivation

Dogwood is valued primarily for the beauty of its foliage and the brightly colored berries that stay on the plant for a long time. It is used in gardens as hedges, borders, and also as a groundcover plant. Dogwood is great for strengthening slopes and cliffs. Plants of this genus are highly resistant to environmental pollution. Usually cotoneaster is planted in autumn, and in areas with a mild climate-in late winter. It is suitable for any type of soil, even poor and calcareous, as long as it is well drained. The distance between plants when planting, depending on the species, should be range from 30-40 cm to 1.5 m.

Location

Cotoneaster prefers a sunny place, but it is also suitable for partial shade, light shading.

Temperature

Cotoneaster is resistant to low temperatures and even frosts.

Watering

Required only in the first year after planting. Never let the water stagnate.

Care

Dogwood is usually not pruned. Remove only the longest protruding branches.

Reproduction

Propagate by seeds that are contained in the fruit, in late summer-early autumn and planted in a peaty soil with the addition of sand, placed in a cool place. After a long period of germination, the seedlings are transplanted, but they are placed in a permanent place after 2-3 years. Dogwood can also be propagated by cuttings. In evergreen species, cuttings approximately 10 cm long are cut from lignified shoots in summer. In deciduous species, cuttings are taken from young shoots in July-August. They are planted in a peat and sand-based soil and placed in a protected, non-hot place. After rooting in the spring of the following year, they are transplanted, and after 2 years-they are determined to a permanent planting site. A less common method is layering. Long branches are dug in October-November. When they take root, which usually takes about a year, they are separated from the parent plant.

Propagate by seeds that are contained in the fruit, in late summer-early autumn and planted in a peaty soil with the addition of sand, placed in a cool place. After a long period of germination, the seedlings are transplanted, but they are placed in a permanent place after 2-3 years.

Dogwood can also be propagated by cuttings. In evergreen species, cuttings approximately 10 cm long are cut from lignified shoots in summer. In deciduous species, cuttings are taken from young shoots in July-August. They are planted in a peat and sand-based soil and placed in a protected, non-hot place. After rooting in the spring of the following year, they are transplanted, and after 2 years-they are determined to a permanent planting site.

A less common method is layering. Long branches are dug in October-November. When they take root, which usually takes about a year, they are separated from the parent plant.

Diseases

Aphids and less often worms suck sap from plants and thereby provoke the appearance of rabies on the formed paddy. Plants in this case are treated with special insecticides (against aphids) and anticoccidal drugs. Mites may appear if the plant is placed in an open sunny place or has been in conditions of prolonged drought. Affected specimens are treated with acaricides. Honeydew (Armillaria mellea) can cause root rot. Affected plants are usually removed.

Acquisition

Dogwood is very easy to find in gardening centers and specialized nurseries. The choice of species is dictated by the intended use of the plant (hedge, border, ground cover, etc.). Dogwood can be planted from containers to a permanent place almost all year round.