Cranberry Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster apiculatus
treeCranberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus) is a low, wide-spreading deciduous shrub with a distinctive stiff, herringbone branching pattern, small round glossy leaves, and round cranberry-red berries that ripen in late summer and persist into winter. Only 2 to 3 ft tall but spreading 3 to 6 ft, it works as a tall groundcover and is excellent cascading over slopes, banks, and retaining walls. The leaves turn red to bronze in fall, and small pink-tinged flowers in spring draw bees. It is hardy, sun-loving, and tough once established.
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Sun
full sun to partial shade
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Water
Every 10 days
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Harvest
~90 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
4-6 ft apart as a groundcover
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Planting Depth
Set at the same depth it grew in the nursery pot
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Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Well-drained; clay, loam, or sand
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 7
When to Fertilize
In early spring as new growth begins
Fertilizer
Balanced slow-release shrub fertilizer; usually needs little
🌱 Growing Guide
Grow cranberry cotoneaster in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil of nearly any texture; it is drought tolerant once established and dislikes wet ground. It needs little care and is best left to its natural arching, spreading form rather than sheared, since pruning spoils the layered branching. Trim only to remove dead or stray stems in late winter. It is well suited to slopes and wall tops where its cascading habit shows. Watch for spider mites in hot, dry spells and for fireblight, to which the genus can be prone.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Jul 14
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Juniper — A spreading evergreen that pairs with cotoneaster on sunny slopes and banks
- Creeping Phlox — A low groundcover that flowers among the cotoneaster stems in spring
- Sedum — A drought-tough succulent that shares the lean, well-drained, sunny site
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Stipple leaves in hot, dry weather; rinse foliage and support plant vigor
Caterpillars web and skeletonize foliage; prune out webs and handpick
A bacterial disease causing blackened shoot tips; prune out well below infected wood and disinfect tools between cuts
🌾 Harvest & storage
Cranberry cotoneaster is grown as a berrying groundcover, not for harvest. The main task is to leave its herringbone branching alone - shape only by removing dead or wayward stems in late winter, since shearing ruins the natural layered form that makes it attractive cascading over walls and slopes.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Cranberry cotoneaster is an ornamental groundcover shrub, not edible. Its value is glossy foliage, red fall color, and persistent red berries cascading over slopes and walls, with spring flowers for bees.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Cotoneaster berries are small pome fruits that contain cyanogenic compounds; eating a few may cause only mild stomach upset, but larger amounts can be more troublesome, so the fruit is not edible. Considered a mild hazard for children and pets if eaten in quantity.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.