Description:
Originating in China, Cotoneaster is an evergreen shrub to 3m tall often
used for hedges. Spineless stems with leaves up to 8cm long.
Shiny green leaves with paler grey/green underside. Leaves have hair underside
when young. Leaf tip has a short point. May have an autumn colouring of reddish
leaves.
Tiny, white flowers in dense clusters, flowering spring to summer.
Numerous conspicuous bunches of small, attractive orange to redberries (poisonous
to humans) in autumn and winter.
Dispersal:
Birds transport cotoneaster seeds over a wide area. Native birds and feral species
such as common mynas eat the berries. Later the birds regurgitate the indigestible
seeds, often far from where they ate the berries - this weed provides food for
feral birds as well as invading the bush.
Impact on Bushland:
Several species of cotoneaster have become woody weeds, thriving in a wide range
of conditions, soils and climates. Cotoneaster will grow virtually anywhere a
bird drops the seeds. Thickets under tall trees displace local native species
and shade the soil. Habitat is lost.
Control:
| Manual: |
These plants were once popular as hardy, fast growing hedges. Until replacement
is possible, the hedges should be pruned before berries form. |
| |
Cotoneaster can be dug out, and seedlings and small plants hand
pulled. |
| |
Responds readily to cutting and painting with a glyphosate
based product. |
| Chemical: |
Please contact your local control authority for
advice on chemical control. |
Similar Species:
Firethorn (Pyracantha species), also often used for hedgerows and now
also a woody weed. A sprawling shrub with narrower leaves and long sharp thorns
on the branches. Both have tiny white flowers and berries also range from yellow
to orange to brilliant red.
Suggested Alternatives:
Narrow-leaf Myrtle (Austromyrtus tenuifolia), Blueberry Ash (Elaeocarpus
reticulatus) to 8m, Lilly Pillies (Acmena smithii varieties) 1-10m,
Heath Banksia (Banksia ericifolia) 4m, Rhododendrons, Camellias, or Photinia
for hedges.
References:
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