Cranberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus)
[kah-TONE-ee-ass-ter ah-pik-yew-LAY-tus]

Deciduous Perennial Shrub in the Rosaceae Family
A tough, low groundcover shrub with glossy summer foliage and a heavy fall crop of cranberry-red berries.

Cotoneaster apiculatus, commonly called cranberry cotoneaster, is a low, spreading deciduous shrub grown for its glossy summer foliage and abundant fall berries. It forms a dense, mounding habit about 3 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide. Pink buds open to pinkish-white flowers in late spring, followed by a heavy crop of bright red, cranberry-like berries that persist into winter. Foliage turns shades of red, purple, and bronze in fall before dropping. Tolerant of poor soil and drought once established, it's a reliable choice for banks, foundations, or anywhere a tough, low groundcover shrub is needed.

Pros

  • Glossy green summer foliage with good red/purple fall color
  • Heavy crop of cranberry-red berries into winter
  • Tough, drought-tolerant groundcover shrub once established

Cons

  • Spreads 5-6 ft wide -- needs room
  • Berries are mildly toxic; keep children and pets from eating them
  • Struggles in hot, humid summers south of its ideal range
Why Like

Not a Midwest native (native to China and Japan), but widely planted as a tough, low-maintenance groundcover shrub -- valued for its glossy foliage, fall color, and heavy berry crop.

 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 3 - 6 feet wide.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Widely Adaptable
Zones 4a - 7b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Deciduous, Dry, Full Sun, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial Pink Flowering Shrubs
Bloom Period May - June
Flower Color Pink buds, opening pinkish-white
Foliage Color Green
 

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Wintergreen Korean Boxwood,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 07/18 - 10/05

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!