James H. Schutte
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Cotoneaster coriaceus
Plant Common Name
Clusterberry
General Description
The glossy green foliage and clusters of bright red berries in fall and winter make clusterberry a beautiful shrub for well-drained soils. An evergreen native to the Yunnan Province of western China, it attains a rounded, mounding, yet spreading form with loose, reddish branches that arch. The leaves are exquisitely oval and deeply veined, ranging in color from light to dark-green above, with a yellowish-white, fuzzy underside. In late summer small white flowers are produced on small branched clusters, known as cymes. After bees pollinate the flowers, the renowned oval red berries mature by late summer and last well into winter.
Grow clusterberry in full to partial sun in a well-drained but moist soil. However, this species is very tough, adaptable to drier and nutrionally poor soils, drought, wind, saltspray, and excessive heat. It is most beautiful if allowed to grow in its natural, informal form as a specimen shrub or informal hedge. Its long, arching form and persistent winter fruits lends itself into use as a spectacular espalier.
Clusterberry has the potential to become quite invasive because of its tough adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions coupled with its ability to produce thousands of fertile, seeded fruits. Check locally to ensure there are no regulations regarding the use of this shrub.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 4
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USDA Hardiness Zone
6 - 9
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Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
6'-10' / 1.8m - 3.0m
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Width
8'-12' / 2.4m - 3.7m
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Bloom Time
Early Summer
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Native To
China
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Pink
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Fruit Color
Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Pink, Black
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow, Red, Green, Orange
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green
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Bark Color
Brown, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
Yes
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Self-Sowing
Yes
