WSU Clark County Extension
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Franchet's Cotoneaster

Scientific name: Cotoneaster franchetii
Taxonomy
Family:Rosaceae
Type:Evergreen shrubs
Native:NO
Plant Requirements
Zone:5 to 8
Sun:Full sun
Moisture:Dry
Plant Characteristics
Height:6 ft
Width:6 ft
Bloom:Summer flowers
Bloom Time:June to July
Bloom Color:White
Additional Characteristics
Trees


Fruit

Leaves


Bark
Wildlife value

Poisonous
Description Franchets’ Cotoneaster makes a great addition to the landscape if it is allowed to form an un-pruned fountain of pink and white summer flowers followed by sweeping arching branches covered with reddish fruit.

  Morphology:
This is an evergreen shrub which grows to 6-8’ in both height and width, with an arching habit.
Leaves are an inch long and oval-elliptic in shape. They are thick and gray-green on their upper surface and silver and hairy on their lower surface. In the fall some of the leaves turn shades of red and yellow while many of them stay green and persist on the branches.

Flowers first appear in June and are grouped in clusters (corymbs). Petals are white to pink and the flowers are held erect.

Flowers morph to reddish-orange oblong fruit which are approximately one quarter inch wide. The lower ends of the fruit resemble small miniature apples. Birds feed on the berries up until the time that they start softening, and drop to the ground. Cotoneasters are recommended by the British Royal Horticultural Society as an attractant and nectar source for bees and other beneficial insects.

  Adaptation:
This species prefers a sunny spot but can be found in partial shade. It prefers well-drained, but somewhat dry sites. If the soil beneath Franchet’s Cotoneater has been left bare the fallen fruit can germinate and spread new plants which will have to weeded out.

There are numerous cases where this shrub has been planted as hedge and sheared. Unfortunately these plants loose their graceful appearance.

  Pests:
None reported.
For assistance, contact Dr. Charles Brun (brunc@wsu.edu), (360) 397-6060 5701
Computing and Web Resources, PO Box 6234, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-6234