Cranberry Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster apiculatus

$34⁷¹

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Plant Size

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Attracts pollinators, Drought resistant, Flowering, Groundcover, Cold hardy, and Evergreen

Specifications

Botanical Name

Cotoneaster apiculatus
Height

2-3 ft
Width

4-6 ft
Growing Zones

4-7
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Slow
Flower Color
- Pink
Leaf Color
- Green
- Red
- Orange
Fall Color

Red, Purple
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Late Spring

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to encourage the heaviest berry production and most vibrant fall color. While this shrub tolerates partial shade, too little sun often results in leggy, loose growth and significantly fewer flowers and fruits.
Soil: Cranberry Cotoneaster adapts to most soil types but absolutely requires excellent drainage to prevent root rot. If you are working with heavy clay, amend the soil with compost or peat moss to improve airflow; for sandy soils, add organic matter to help hold necessary moisture near the roots.

Watering Requirements

Your new plant needs consistent moisture during its first growing season to establish a deep, resilient root system. Once established, it is quite drought-tolerant, though you should still provide a deep soak during prolonged dry spells to keep the foliage lush and the berries plump. If watering is inconsistent or neglected during summer heat, the plant may drop its fruit early or develop scorched leaf edges.

Pruning Tips

This shrub blooms on new wood, so the best time to prune is late winter or very early spring before new growth begins. Focus on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches to open up the center of the plant for better air circulation, which helps prevent disease. Avoid shearing off just the tips, as this ruins the natural arching habit; instead, cut rogue branches all the way back to a main stem or the ground.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release shrub fertilizer in early spring just as the buds begin to swell. Avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the growing season (after July), as this encourages soft, tender growth that will likely be damaged by the first winter frost.

Growing Zones 4-7

Find Your Growing Zone!

Hardy, pretty groundcover, if you need a beautifully reliable plant that covers ground and adds interest in a tough area, try Cranberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus)! You'll gain so many ornamental features from a durable, rugged little deciduous shrub.

These small plants feature pretty pink flowers in late spring that draw pollinators and butterflies. They'll slowly transition to showy, small red cranberry-like fruits, which develop in summer and hang well into winter. If the birds let them stick around! Songbirds swoop in to gobble up these ornamental fruits!

It's covered in very glossy green, round leaves all summer long. Starting in fall, they'll burnish into beautiful bronze hues of purples and reds to color the end of the season.

Of course, those bright, red berries will make it a standout in your winter landscape! When fruiting, this shrub looks like it's decorated for the holidays. These fruits add exceptional interest and beauty while attracting local birds that feast on the bright fruit.

Even the informal, spreading form itself delivers a visual impact. Small branches arch up from the crown and then drop down, adding a sense of motion. As the arching branches touch the ground, they'll root and slowly spread to reach their mature size. These ground-covering small shrubs are easy to grow and maintain!

Planting and Application:

Pronounced "Koh toh knee aster", rely on Cranberry Cotoneaster for year-round interest! Use this versatile small shrub throughout your landscape to tie the entire design together. You'll enjoy flowers, red cranberry-like fruits for months, and fall color!

Add them to high-profile places in your landscape. Plant them in your foundations for a colorful, sophisticated modern look. You can also plant them as noteworthy plants near the edge of your mixed shrub borders.

They make excellent specimens in Asian-style gardens. Try your hand at the patient art of bonsai with these lovely plants! Let ramble throughout Rock Gardens and along the front of your foundation planting.

Of course, they make wonderful mass plantings on slopes and hillsides. Plant them three feet apart on center so they grow together and touch. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next.

Create fantastic informal drifts in large landscapes with rock outcroppings or hillsides rising above a patio. They are wonderful decorative erosion control for slopes and terraced areas!

Beautiful Pink Flowers in Late Spring
Glossy, Dark Green Foliage
Foliage Turns Purple & Red in Fall
Accented by Red Fruit - Showy for Months
Sprawling, Versatile Groundcover, Colorful Foundation Plant & Mass Plantings

#ProPlantTips for Care:

It thrives in full sun to show off the high-gloss foliage, but will also grow in partial shade, too. For the best berry production, give it at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. It requires well-drained soil, so mound up or use a raised bed for planting if your drainage is sluggish. Water regularly during its first year as it works to establish a strong root system. Give it a moderate amount of water from then on for the best performance. It's nice to note that this plant is tolerant of periodic drought.

For best results, water during extended drought and provide a 3-4 inch layer of mulch around the entire root system. Prune wayward branches back below the outline of the canopy any time of year. The goal of pruning should be to reduce the size while retaining the true mounded and arching growth habit.

Grows Best in Full Sun & Partial Shade
Widely Adaptable to a Variety of Conditions & Well-Drained Soils
Moderate Moisture Needs -Drought Tolerant Once Established
Prune After Flowering
Very Adaptable, Pollution-Tolerant & Easy-To-Grow

Add this special "4 season" plant to your landscape today! Perfect for low-maintenance landscapes, the hardy Cranberry Cotoneaster will be an anchor for your garden design! Order these small but mighty groundcover shrubs from the experts at Nature Hills today! Our expert growers will pack and ship them directly to your door.

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

Cranberry Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster apiculatus

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Specifications