Habitat

• native to Western China
• zone 5
• tolerant to -20^oF, but some damage will occur

Habit and Form

• semi-evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub
• 5' to 6' tall and 6' to 8' wide
• spreading, irregular habit
• branches are slender and drooping
• fine texture
• medium to fast growth rate

Summer Foliage

• leaves are alternate and simple
• leave margins are entire
• 0.20" to 0.50" long
• glabrous on upperside of leaf
• pubescent on underside of leaf
• dark green color
• leaf blade is flat

Autumn Foliage

• purplish winter color

Flowers

• light pink flowers
• blooms in late May
• flowers are small, but in abundance are showy

Fruit

• red small, pome fruits
• 0.25" in diameter
• held through winter
• ripen in September through October
• can be showy

Bark

• gray
• smooth
• stems have a fishbone pattern

Culture

• transplant from containers only because of sparse root system
• prefers well-drained, fertile soil
• needs adequate moisture
• wind tolerant
• pH adaptable
• full sun to partial shade
• prune tolerant

Landscape Use

• groundcover
• bank cover
• groupings or mass
• espalier
• for flowers or fruit afect

Liabilities

• bees are attractive to flowers
• fireblight
• leaf spot
• spider mites

ID Features

• fishbone stem pattern
• red, pome fruits
• irregular growth habit
• long drooping branches
• alternate leaves
• pubescence on underside of leaf

Propagation

• by seed
• cuttings, wood collected June through August

Cultivars/Varieties

'Perpusillus' - One of the lowest, most prostrate selections. This plant only grows to 1' tall and up to 7' wide. The glossy deep green leaves are alleged to be susceptible to fireblight.

'Tom Thumb' (also listed as 'Little Gem') - Has a compact, dense, closely-branched habit that develops into a broad-spreading mound with dark green leaves. Makes a good rock garden specimen. Some authorities place this cultivar under Cotoneaster adpressus.

'Variegatus' - A widely available, slow-growing form with tiny leaves margined with white. Grows slowly to 3' tall and 6' wide with layered branches. Interesting in that it has some of the smallest variegated leaves of any plant.