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Parney Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster coriaceus (koh-toh-nee-ASS-ter co-ree-AY-shes)

Family: Rosaceae Non-native Shrub (3-15 ft)

Parney cotoneaster or late cotoneaster is an evergreen Chinese shrub in the Rosaceae (rose) family native to China with an erect, loose, spreading habit. At maturity it will reach 6-10 feet tall and wide. In spring, clusters of small white flowers appear that become clusters of bright red berries in late summer to fall that persist into the winter. Birds and small mammals enjoy the berries. The name coriaceus comes from the word "leathery" which is how the leaves feel. It will grow in any well-drained soil in full sun to part shade and is drought tolerant once established. It handles salt spray, heavy winds, and urban pollution with ease, making it a perfect choice for coastal gardens or roadside screening. It has dramatic arching branches so it is best not to prune so it keeps its shape. The synonym given to this plant means that it is one of the latest cotoneasters to bloom and fruit. That way it doesn't have to compete with other plants for the attention of pollinators in the spring or berry-eating birds in the fall. Plant it for ornamental value. It has been recognized with the Royal Horticultural Society Award for Garden Merit. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No known insect problems or diseases. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 61 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Open; Spreading; Weeping
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Velvety
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Oval leaves are up to 2 inches long and dark green with fuzzy white hairs on the undersides.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, white flowers in clusters up to 2.5 inches appear in late spring to early summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Long-lasting; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/4 inch bright red fruits in clusters in late summer that persists into winter
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish-brown stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Tibet to South Central China
Wildlife value
Berries are a food source; flowers attract pollinators
Attracts
Bees; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Screening; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer; Winter
Fruit type
Pome
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Rock Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy
Garden tags
#evergreen #border planting #drought tolerant #full sun tolerant #erosion control #winter interest #pomes #showy flowers #partial shade tolerant #showy fruits #landscape plant sleuths course #hedge
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Pollution; Poor Soil; Salt
Propagation
Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.