Cotoneaster salicifolius
Encyclopedia
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.
of the willow-leaved cotoneaster is gray-brown, its stems
are thin, and its root
system is sparse.
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. 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.
In June it bears many flowered, compound corymbs of white, 5-6 mm flowers. The fruit
grow as small, showy, apple
-like, red pome
s, ripening in September to October, and enduring into the winter.
The diploid chromosomal
number is 34 (2n=34).
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.
, scale insects and spider mites. It is also considered highly susceptible to the Enterobacteria
fire blight and has been used as a test species to trial new methods of control. In parts of Europe
where fire blight was previously unknown, cultivated specimens of this species are among the first plants identified as infected.
s which range from tiny groundcover
s to large shrub
s:
Additional list sources :
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
to semi-evergreen, low-lying, small to medium sized shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
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
Western China
Western China , refers to the western part of China. In the definition of the Chinese government, Western China covers six provinces: Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan; one municipality: Chongqing; and three autonomous regions: Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang.-Administrative...
, it is commonly cultivated in temperate climates worldwide. Cultivars have been bred in a variety of forms, as ornamental groundcovers or shrubs.
Description
The barkBark
Bark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
of the willow-leaved cotoneaster is gray-brown, its stems
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
are thin, and its root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
system is sparse.
The leaves are alternate, simple, long, lanceolate, dark green and resemble those of willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
trees (thus the common name), and have fine gray hairs on their undersides. The scientific name 'salicifolius', described by the botanist Franchet
Adrien René Franchet
Adrien René Franchet was a French botanist, based at the Paris Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. He is noted for his extensive work describing the flora of China and Japan, based on the collections made by Armand David, Pierre Jean Marie Delavay, Paul Guillaume Farges and others.-References:...
, means 'with leaves like willows' (see: Genus Salix). During the colder months, they turn maroonish in color.
In June it bears many flowered, compound corymbs of white, 5-6 mm flowers. The fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
grow as small, showy, apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
-like, red pome
Pome
In botany, a pome is a type of fruit produced by flowering plants in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae.A pome is an accessory fruit composed of one or more carpels surrounded by accessory tissue...
s, ripening in September to October, and enduring into the winter.
The diploid chromosomal
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
number is 34 (2n=34).
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Cultivation
Depending on the characteristics of the cultivar, the Willow-leaved Cotoneaster can be used as a hedgeHedge
Hedge may refer to:* Hedge or hedgerow, line of closely spaced shrubs planted to act as a barrier* Hedge , investment made to limit loss* Hedge , intentionally non-committal or ambiguous sentence fragments-See also:...
or screen
Windbreak
A windbreak or shelterbelt is a plantation usually made up of one or more rows of trees or shrubs planted in such a manner as to provide shelter from the wind and to protect soil from erosion. They are commonly planted around the edges of fields on farms. If designed properly, windbreaks around a...
; 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.
Pests
C. salicifolius is susceptible to bouts with leaf spotLeaf spot
Leaf spots are round blemishes found on the leaves of many species of plants, mostly caused by parasitic fungi or bacteria.A typical spot is "zonal", meaning it has a definite edge and often has a darker border. When lots of spots are present, they can grow together and become a blight or a blotch...
, scale insects and spider mites. It is also considered highly susceptible to the Enterobacteria
Enterobacteriaceae
The Enterobacteriaceae is a large family of bacteria that includes many of the more familiar pathogens, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Yersinia pestis, Klebsiella and Shigella. This family is the only representative in the order Enterobacteriales of the class Gammaproteobacteria in the...
fire blight and has been used as a test species to trial new methods of control. In parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
where fire blight was previously unknown, cultivated specimens of this species are among the first plants identified as infected.
List of cultivars
This plant has over 30 cultivarCultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s which range from tiny groundcover
Groundcover
Groundcover refers to any plant that grows over an area of ground, used to provide protection from erosion and drought, and to improve its aesthetic appearance .- Ecosystem :...
s to large shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s:
- "Angustus"
- "Autumn Fire" or "Herbstfeuer" (German): It grows 2 to 3 feet tall.
- "Avonbank"
- "Avondrood": Equivalent to, or thought to be equivalent to "Repandens" and "Repens".
- "Dekor"
- "Dortmund": Thought to be equivalent to "Repandens" and "Repens", and possibly to "Avondrood".
- "Emerald Carpet"TM or "Green carpet": A cultivar with denser than average foliage, it is similar to "Repens".
- "Exburyensis"
- "Floccosus"
- "Gnom" or "Gnome": It grows 8 to 12 inches tall.
- "Henryanus"
- "Herbstfeuer"(German) or "Autumn Fire": A cultivar that virtually lies on the ground and stands less than a foot high.
- "HQ": Similar to "Repens".
- "Klampen"
- "Moner": Developed in MonroviaMonroviaMonrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, it is thought to be the same as "Emerald Carpet"TM. It grows about a foot high, and spreads 6 to 8 feet, with a compact growth habit. - "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.
- "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.
- "September Beauty"
- "Sympatie"
- "Valkenburg"
- "Willeke"
Additional list sources :