Cotoneaster Franchetii

Cotoneaster franchetii is an attractive evergreen or semi-evergreen ornamental shrub with arching branches, silvery foliage, summer flowers and colourful autumn berries. It is a versatile choice for informal hedging, screening, mixed borders, wildlife gardens and specimen planting.

It develops a naturally arching habit and can reach approximately 2–3 metres in height, making it useful for creating informal structure and screening. The leaves are glossy grey-green above with a silvery-white underside, giving the shrub an attractive two-tone appearance, particularly when the branches move in the breeze.

In early summer, clusters of small white flowers tinged with pink appear along the branches. These are followed by oblong orange-scarlet fruits, which provide an attractive display later in the year and are enjoyed by birds.

The flowers are particularly attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, making Cotoneaster franchetii a useful addition to wildlife-friendly planting.

Plant in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. Its arching growth makes it particularly effective as an informal screen or hedge, while its attractive foliage and berries also make it a good feature shrub for mixed borders.