Cotoneaster franchetii Hedging Plants

• Variety: Cotoneaster franchetii, a semi-evergreen hedge with orange berries
• Latin name: Cotoneaster franchetii
• Sold as: Bareroot 40/60cm. Pot-grown 40/60cm and 120/140cm. Instant hedge troughs, 1m long and 125/150cm tall
• Kept height: A clipped hedge of 2 to 3m
• Ultimate size: 2.5 to 4m tall and wide if left unpruned, in 10 to 20 years
• Evergreen: Semi-evergreen: in full leaf through a mild winter, thinner after a hard one
• Spacing: 3 per metre, 33cm apart
• Flowers: White, tinged pink, in early summer. Bees work them
• Berries: Orange-scarlet, from autumn into winter
• Position: Full sun or partial shade. Exposed or sheltered
• Soil: Any well-drained soil, chalk and clay included
• Thorns: None
• Hardiness: H6, hardy through the British winter
• Delivered: Bareroot, November to April. Pot-grown, all year when in stock. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Cotoneaster franchetii makes a dense, tidy hedge of 2 to 3 metres with grey-green leaves, white early summer flowers and masses of orange-scarlet berries. It is semi-evergreen and unfussy about soil, and in tests beside busy roads its hairy leaves trapped more traffic pollution than any other hedge tried.

Cotoneaster franchetii Hedging Plants

Cotoneaster franchetii is a medium sized, bushy shrub that makes a dense, attractive hedging plant. It's almost evergreen in the UK; it keeps its leaves in a mild winter and loses them, usually in late winter, if the weather is harsh. This is normal and doesn't hurt the plants. It has white flowers, tinged pink, in early summer, followed by masses of decorative orange berries in autumn. Its neat green foliage clips beautifully, so you can keep it looking very tidy.
In a study of roadside hedges, it trapped at least 20% more particulate pollution than the other hedges tested.
It's good for hedges up to about 2-3 metres high.
Browse all of our other varieties of Cotoneaster shrubs & trees, our selection of coastal hedging or our range of hedging plants.

Delivery season: Bareroot plants are delivered during late autumn and winter, approximately November-April inclusive. Pot-grown plants and troughs can be delivered in any month when in stock.

Growing Cotoneaster franchetii

It's not fussy about soil as long as it isn't waterlogged, and it doesn't mind a bit of shade either. It likes heavy clay, and is widely planted in polluted inner city areas.

It's a well-behaved shrub for the back of a border, easy to keep looking tidy.

As hedging, it's often mixed with the Red Berried Cotoneaster Simonsii for a bit more colour.

Spacing a Cotoneaster franchetii hedge: Like most formal hedging, plant at 3 per metre, 33cm apart in a single row.

History & Trivia

This is a Chinese plant that was brought to Europe in 1895 by the French Abbot Soulie.

It was the best of the hedges tested at trapping traffic pollution beside busy roads.

Planting Companions

The usual partner is the red-berried Cotoneaster simonsii, linked above: this one is taller and greyer, with longer leaves, and it takes partial shade where simonsii wants sun. For a screen that never thins in winter, browse our evergreen hedging. Before you order, our guide to hedge spacing helps you count the plants. Dust bareroot roots with Rootgrow as you plant.

Why Buy Your Hedging from Ashridge?

Hedging is not a sideline here: your Cotoneaster franchetii is grown for us as hedging by specialist growers. Bareroot plants are lifted to order while dormant and guaranteed for 12 months, and pot-grown plants and troughs can be planted in any month. Ashridge has sold plants since 1949.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cotoneaster franchetii evergreen?

Semi-evergreen. It stays in full leaf through a mild winter and thins in late winter after a hard one. That leaf drop is cosmetic, and the hedge refills in spring.

Does it really clean the air?

Beside a busy road, yes. Tests found that its rough, hairy leaves trapped at least 20% more particulate pollution than the other hedges tested. Away from traffic, plant a mixed hedge for wildlife.

Is it invasive?

It is not among the Cotoneasters listed on Schedule 9 for England and Wales, so it is legal to plant. Birds spread the seed, so pull up stray seedlings if you border open country.

How tall does it grow?

As a clipped hedge, keep it at 2 to 3 metres. Left unpruned, it grows 2.5 to 4 metres tall and wide in 10 to 20 years.

When do you trim it?

After flowering. Trimming removes some of that year's berries from the cut face, so trim lightly if the berries matter to you.

Bareroot, potted or trough?

Bareroot is the economical choice for a long run, planted from November to April. Pots and troughs cost more, and can be planted in any month for a quicker screen.

When are the plants delivered?

Bareroot plants are delivered from November to April, while they are dormant. Pot-grown plants can be delivered and planted in any month when you find them in stock.