Cotoneaster Peking #1

Looking for a great hedging solution to give structure to your landscape? How do you feel about pretty, shiny dark green foliage and sweet pink flowers that cover every stem in spring? Would you like your hedge to be easy care?

How about feeding local butterflies and songbirds with zero extra effort on your part? If all that sounds good, you'll definitely want this variety on your shortlist.

The Peking Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster acutifolius var. lucidus) is a deciduous shrub with slender, upright, spreading branches. When young, they hold their branches straight, tidy and upright, but will eventually grow into a lovely round shape in open areas with full sun.

Now, don't be fooled! The handsome, shiny green foliage may have you thinking this is a Holly from a distance. But this plant is hardy way down to -40 below zero!

It is such a cold hardy shrub, that in Canada and Alaska, they actually espalier the plants on walls, or train them into many different forms. These hedging plants can take extreme weather!

Not only does the Peking Cotoneaster (pronounced "Koh toh knee aster") have beautiful foliage, but they have apple blossom-like pink flowers and buds that open and to showcase white petals. The flowers are borne in mid-spring and will attract butterflies.

Following the flowers, the plants develop small black berries that persist into winter or until the birds eat them. They are appreciated by songbirds through the winter.