Cotoneaster adpressus var. praecox
Overview
Uses: Groundcover on slopes and banks, rock gardens, low mass plantings, and erosion control.
Benefits: A low, mounding cotoneaster that spreads wide and covers ground on slopes and banks. Small pinkish flowers in spring are followed by bright red berries, and the small glossy leaves turn red in fall. Very cold hardy and tough once established.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–7
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Spreading, Mounding — low and wide-spreading.
Bloom Color: Pink
Foliage Color: Green, turning Red in fall
Mature Height: 1½–3 feet
Mature Width: 4–6 feet
Bloom Season: Spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A low, arching shrub that turns a hard-to-mow bank into a finished planting.
Creeping cotoneaster grows into a broad, gently mounded shrub about one and a half to three feet tall and four to six feet across. Its stiff, arching branches are lined with small, glossy, rounded leaves, and they layer over one another to cover the ground densely. On a slope, along the top of a retaining wall, or among boulders in a rock garden, it fills space in a way that looks natural rather than planted.
In spring, small pink flowers dot the branches, and by late summer they have become bright red berries that stand out against the dark leaves. In fall the foliage turns red before dropping, so the plant brings color at both ends of the season.
It is a durable plant for cold climates, comfortable down to zone 4, and once established it takes ordinary soil, sun or partial shade, and dry spells in stride.
Care
Praecox Creeping Cotoneaster Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Full sun gives the densest growth, the most berries, and the best fall color.
Any well-drained soil works, including sandy, rocky, and lean ground. Avoid sites where water collects; cotoneasters dislike wet feet. Loosen the soil well at planting on compacted slopes so roots can spread.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. After that, plants tolerate dry periods well and need water only during extended drought. Mulch around young plants to hold moisture and keep weeds down until the branches fill in.
Feeding needs are light. One application of a slow release fertilizer in early spring is plenty, and established plants in reasonable soil often need none.
Little pruning is needed. Its natural arching form looks best unsheared; simply remove any dead or wayward branches in late winter or early spring. If a branch grows over a walk, cut it back to where it joins a larger stem.
Size
What Size is the Praecox Creeping Cotoneaster for Sale Online?
Our Praecox Creeping Cotoneaster ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Praecox Creeping Cotoneaster Grow?
Expect about 1½ to 3 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity, in a low, mounding, wide-spreading shape. Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart to cover a slope or bank.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is usually called creeping cotoneaster, and it is also sold as early cotoneaster.
Is it good for slopes and erosion control?
Yes. The dense, spreading branches cover bare ground on banks where mowing is difficult, and the roots help hold soil once the planting fills in. Mulch between young plants for the first year or two to keep weeds out while they spread. Explore more Groundcovers.
Do birds eat the berries?
Yes. The red berries ripen in late summer and are eaten by birds through fall and into winter. The spring flowers are also visited by bees.
How does it compare with rockspray cotoneaster?
Both are low, spreading cotoneasters with red berries and red fall color. Creeping cotoneaster forms a more mounded, irregular shape, while rockspray grows in flat, layered tiers with a distinct herringbone branch pattern. For more low and mid-size shrubs, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
