Habitat

• native to western China
• hardy to zone 6

Habit and Form

• a large, semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub
• 10" to 15" tall and similar in width
• arching habit with an open appearance
• medium texture
• medium growth rate

Summer Foliage

• alternate leaf arrangement
• simple leaves
• long, linear leaves
• up to 3.5" long
• dark green leaf color with a gray pubescent underside

Autumn Foliage

• purplish-tinge occurs in colder seasons

Flowers

• small, white flowers
• flowers borne in corymbs
• blooms in May
• emit odor

Fruit

• red pome fruit
• small
• ripen in September through October
• can be showy
• persist through winter

Bark

• grayish brown bark
• thin stems

Culture

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

Landscape Use

• hedge
• bank cover
• groupings or mass
• for flowers or fruit effect
• screen

Liabilities

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

ID Features

• long, linear leaves
• white flowers
• red, pome fruits
• irregular growth habit
• long spreading branches
• alternate, evergreen leaves
• pubescence on underside of leaf

Propagation

• by seed, stratification required
• cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

'Repens' (also seen as 'Repandens'; 'Avondrood' and 'Dortmund' are probably the same) - A low-growing form with lustrous leaves that may be semi-evergreen in severe winters. The plant fruits well with red pomes and may be used as groundcover. 'HQ' and 'Green Carpet' are very similar in habit, as are other cultivars.

'Scarlet Leader' - This prostrate form is common in the trade and is useful in creating a mat-like low groundcover. It only reaches 3' tall but can cover up to 10' wide. The foliage is glossy, disease-free and assumes a purplish hue in winter.