Late Cotoneaster
(Cotoneaster lacteus)

The Late Cotoneaster is a pretty hedge that boasts delicate white flowers at the beginning of summer, which are then followed with bright-red berries in the Winter. The Lacteus is more than likely to welcome wildlife to your garden, as birds, butterflies and bees love the berries and flowers as much as we do.

Many people compare the Late Cotoneaster to the Cotoneaster Franchetii, however, the key difference between the two is that the Cotoneaster Lacteus has long arching branches and tend to trail downwards- this means they usually have to be supported by a fence or wall. In terms of hedging, you can make this plant look great if you prune it into a neat form with a neat form of draping stems, or you can even leave it to grow more informally and let it climb its way up walls and fences.

Cotoneaster Lacteus hedges will thrive in full sun to partial shade conditions, and will prefer to be placed in normal, well-drained soil. That being said, it can easily tolerate poor soil, and is suitable for coastal situations.

• Growth height: Average (20-40cm per year)
• Ideal height: 2.5m+ Tall
• Soil Type: Normal
• Exposure: Coastal, Exposed, Inland
• Aspect: Semi-shade, Sun
• Evergreen foliage? Yes

You should trim your Late Cotoneaster twice a year- once at the beginning of June, and then again near the end of September. You must prune at the correct times (stated here), otherwise you may end up removing new shoots that are trying to grow. Once you have pruned, we also recommend feeding or mulching the plant.

When should I plant Late Cotoneaster hedging?

The best time to plant Cotoneaster is throughout autumn, when the weather is a little cooler.

How far apart do you plant Late Cotoneaster plants?

You should stick to planting around 3-5 plants per metre. This helps to achieve the best density and bushiness in your hedging.

How to plant Late Cotoneaster:

Begin by digging a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the plant's root ball. Save the soil to use as backfill, but remove any weeds or rocks from it.̴Ì?

Try to break up any densely matted roots before placing into the hole. Ensure they are planted at ground level.

Once planted, backfill the hole with the excess soil and amend with peat moss or compost. After this, thoroughly water the plant (watering will need to be done weekly for the first year after planting).̴Ì?

Spread a decent layer of mulch around the plants to help suppress any weeds - this mulch will also help the plant to survive in very cold conditions, as it helps to retain soil temperature and moisture.