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Shrubs

Cotoneaster bullatus

hollyberry cotoneaster

A large deciduous shrub with deeply-veined ovate leaves turning red and orange in autumn. Flowers small, pale pink in early summer, followed by relatively large, bright red berries which colour early

Synonyms

Cotoneaster bullatus f. floribundus
Cotoneaster bullatus var. floribundus

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Fruit may cause mild stomach upset if ingested. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling
Genus: Cotoneaster can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees, with simple, entire leaves and clusters of small white or pink flowers in spring and summer, followed by showy red, purple or black berries
Name status: Correct
Plant range: China (Sichuan)

How to grow

Cultivation

This plant is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act as an invasive non-native species. While this does not prevent it from being sold in the UK, or from being grown in gardens, the RHS encourages those that do grow it to take great care with managing it and with disposing of unwanted material. The RHS also encourages gardeners to find alternative plants to grow to those listed on Schedule 9. For suggested alternative plants see the Plantlife/RHS guide: Gardening without harmful invasive plants

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe in autumn in containers in a cold frame or by softwood cuttings in early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Cut flowers

Pruning

Pruning group 1 or pruning group 13 for wall-trained specimens

Pests

May be attacked by scale insects and woolly aphids

Diseases

May be subject to fireblight

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