Great Plant Pick: Cotoneaster dammeri, bearberry cotoneaster

Published 1:30 am Saturday, December 21, 2019

What: Cotoneaster dammeri is a dense, semi-evergreen, compact grower that produces brilliant red berries and is easy to grow. It works well as a ground cover, as a foundation plant, as edging in front of beds or borders, in rock gardens and cascading over banks and retaining walls. This creeping cotoneaster looks good in combination with larger Berberis.

Where: This groundcover cotoneaster grows best in well drained soil, but it will tolerate sandy soil and clay. It will flower and fruit most heavily in full sun, but will still give a good show in light or open shade.

Size: Bearberry cotoneaster grows to be 1 foot tall with a 6-foot spread once mature.

Care: Although it is fully drought tolerant once established, occasional watering will help the fruit form to perfection in late summer and fall. Almost no pruning is necessary to maintain its low habit.

— Richie Steffen, Great Plant Picks