How far apart should I plant Wall cotoneaster?

About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft).

Does Wall cotoneaster need full sun?

Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.

How much water does Wall cotoneaster need?

Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.

How cold-hardy is Wall cotoneaster?

It tolerates about -29 °C (-20 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.

When does Wall cotoneaster flower?

From about May for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).

Is Wall cotoneaster poisonous to cats and dogs?

For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Berries contain cyanogenic glycosides and can cause mild stomach upset in children and pets.

What grows well with Wall cotoneaster?

Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.

Wall cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis

Wall cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) is a deciduous perennial shrub in the Rosaceae family, native to Western China. It grows 60 cm–1 m (24 in–3.3 ft) tall and 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -29 °C (-20 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.

Plan Wall cotoneaster in your garden →
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Wall cotoneaster at a glance

Type	Perennial shrub, deciduous
Family	Rosaceae
Mature height	60 cm–1 m (24 in–3.3 ft)
Mature spread	1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft)
Spacing	1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre
Sun	Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day
Water	Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none
Soil pH	6–8
Cold hardiness	About -29 °C (-20 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4)
Heat stress	Likely above about 33 °C (91 °F)
Flowering	from about May for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones)
Wind tolerance	Moderate
Pollinator value	High
Edible	Not grown as food
Native to	Western China
Common in gardens of	🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇨🇳 China
Invasive in	UK (Wildlife and Countryside Act Schedule 9), Australia (environmental weed in southern states), New Zealand (pest plant): check local rules before planting

Is Wall cotoneaster toxic?

People: mildly toxic
Cats: mildly toxic
Dogs: mildly toxic
Parts: berries, seeds

Berries contain cyanogenic glycosides and can cause mild stomach upset in children and pets.

If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.

Companion planting: what to grow with Wall cotoneaster

Good neighbours

good With Garlic chives: Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal. Evidence D

Keep apart or take care

caution With Firethorn (pyracantha): Pyracantha and Cotoneaster are both hosts of fireblight (Erwinia amylovora), so an infected plant can pass the bacterium to the other via insects and rain. Evidence B
caution With Japanese flowering quince: Chaenomeles and Cotoneaster are both pome-fruit relatives that can host fireblight, so the disease can move between them in warm, wet spring weather. Evidence B

Shared pests and diseases

Fire blight: Fire blight bacteria are carried by bees and rain between apples, pears, quince, hawthorn, cotoneaster and firethorn. Evidence B

Questions about Wall cotoneaster

How far apart should I plant Wall cotoneaster?: About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft).
Does Wall cotoneaster need full sun?: Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
How much water does Wall cotoneaster need?: Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
How cold-hardy is Wall cotoneaster?: It tolerates about -29 °C (-20 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
When does Wall cotoneaster flower?: From about May for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
Is Wall cotoneaster poisonous to cats and dogs?: For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Berries contain cyanogenic glycosides and can cause mild stomach upset in children and pets.
What grows well with Wall cotoneaster?: Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.

Sources and evidence

Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).

RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI

Notes and assumptions

Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
Semi-evergreen in mild winters; herringbone branches are often trained against a wall; bird-sown seedlings are the main spread route.

Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.

Related plants

Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg.
Garden rose Rosa x hybrida
Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata