Cotoneaster x watereri / Cotoneaster cornubia
Known variously as Cotoneaster cornubia and Cotoneaster x watereri, this Cotoneaster tree is a large, vigorous shrub that we have grown with a single stem so it forms a tree. It has clouds of little white flowers, attractive red berries and loads of winter interest. The long, narrow leaves are semi-evergreen, meaning that the mottled yellow and tan red autumn foliage stays on the tree through the winter, barring the kind of exceptionally harsh and regular frosts that we are seeing less of these days. If you live in the middle of a city, you are pretty much guaranteed a good screen all year round. Cotoneaster cornubia produces masses of little white flowers in summer which are a glorious sight, foaming out of the tree and attracting as many bees and butterflies as a Buddleia. These flowers develop into almost equally abundant red fruit in thick clusters which will brighten up your garden's winter scene and are loved by birds everywhere. Cotoneaster trees are distantly related to apples and the fruits are edible, though not wildly tasty. The recommended method for preparing them is to make jam or jelly, straining out the seeds and mixing them with other fruit (rowan berries and crab apples would be a great combination).
Cotoneaster cornubia was bred in Exbury gardens around 1930. Your Cotoneaster tree should reach 20 feet (6 metres). They make a great specimen tree for a smaller garden and are also well suited for planting in a row to create a screen.
Caring for your Cotoneaster cornubia
Your tree will form a loose, rounded crown all by itself. If you need to prune any stray branches, do so in midwinter, until February. Cotoneaster cornubia will benefit from a bit of mulch each autumn and we always recommend mulching around newly planted trees - after they have been well watered.
Planting Cotoneaster cornubia
Cotoneasters will thrive in almost any soil; their range extends from heavy clay - where they are best planted on a bank or slope to very poor and chalky or dry and sandy soils. They are happy on the coast, so long as there is a decent ratio of organic matter to sand in the soil and they certainly aren't fazed by city pollution.
If you are unclear about the way standard trees are sized, take a look at our Guide to Standard Tree Sizing or you can go back to our main standard trees page.
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