Cotoneaster tree

delmar39

Hi there I'm looking for an evergreen tree to act as screening down one side of my new garden. I've picked out the cotoneaster × watereri. It has flowers in summer and berries in winter. Has anyone come across these trees before? They grow 5 meters high with similar spread. I'm planting 3 in an 11.1mtr space. Advice, comments, thoughts welcome!

Davesnave

I had Cotoneaster cornubia, which is similar. In fact I still have it, because I grew more from it and took them with me when I left!

I wouldn't be without tree sized cotoneasters. They are practically evergreen and always seem to be doing something interesting. Mine would be stripped of its berries by redwings around Christmas, change its leaves in April, flower from around May, attracting hundreds of insects, and then produce another great crop of red berries.

I'd guess my tree was about 18' high when I moved, and a neighbour's was older and about 20'. However, my Dad received one of its early babies and because he only had a small garden, his was clipped once a year to stay at around 9'. They are really adaptable trees, so careful pruning to restrict size, remove crossing branches or keep the shape is often worthwhile, though some berries may be lost.

Ken68

There is one up the road from me, Del. Full of berries every year, and thought with the harsh winter would have been stripped by now. but no.
Zonking red eyeful.

delmar39

Thanks each for your comments. In my current garden I have 3 hornbeam trees in a row. Problem is they're slow growers, not evergreen and therefore not a very good screen. We're going to a new house and I noticed the cotoneaster trees in a row at my squash club and loved them (it's only because I was looking for trees that I noticed them).

What habit to they have i.e. arching? Is there a single trunk or lots of branches coming off? I guess the higher it goes the more the trunk can be pruned.

I'm still not 100%, but following your comments a bit closer to making a decision. I can get 3 cot. watereri from a local nursery for £15 each, which isn't too bad. I just want to make sure they'll grow big enough. Any comments about how many to plant in an 11mtr space row appreciated. I'm thinking 3 but perhaps one more.

Ken68

I would go for a hawthorn hedge, quick growing and with the occasional tall specimen tree, either or both coton or ornamental hawthorn. What the wildlife people plant.
Lots of pictures on Hedges Direct.

delmar39

Thanks Ken. I'm not keen on putting a full hedge down one side. I like trees planted in a row with some gaps, so coton seems to be a good compromise. I'll have a look at hedges direct.