Characteristics
- Botanical Name: Cotoneaster lucidus
- Growth Habit: Upright, dense, and multi-stemmed; ideal for hedges.
- Height: Typically 6–10 ft
- Width: About 4–6 ft
- Foliage: Glossy dark green leaves turning vibrant orange-red in fall.
- Hardiness Zone: 2–6 (extremely cold-hardy).
- Growth Rate: Moderate; usually 12–18″ per year under good conditions.
Benefits
- Excellent for formal hedges, privacy screens, and windbreaks.
- Thrives in cold climates and tolerates urban conditions.
- Attractive seasonal color and wildlife-friendly (berries for birds).
- Low maintenance and drought-tolerant once established.
Care Tips
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade for best growth.
- Soil: Well-drained; adapts to a variety of soil types.
- Water: Regular watering during establishment; drought-tolerant later.
- Pruning: Responds well to shaping; prune in late winter or early spring.
Common Uses
- Formal hedges and property borders.
- Shelterbelts and windbreaks.
- Wildlife gardens and naturalized plantings.
