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Shrub · Rosaceae family

Wall cotoneaster

Cotoneaster horizontalis

Full sun to part shade in a garden 0.6–1 m × 1–1.5 m Flowers May–June to −29 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
in a garden after 10 years0.6–1 m
in the wild up to 1 m
spacing 1.4 m
FlowersMay–June
PlantingMarch–April, October–November
WinterNo winter protection
Watched as potentially invasive (DE, CZ) — keep it away from the wild and do not let it spread.

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
dry to averagenot fussy about soil

Watering

only in dry spellsless when it rains

Frost

−29 °C
no winter protectionleafless in winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.6–1 mspread 1.8–2.5 m
0.6–1 m× spread 1.8–2.5 m

Plant 1.4 m apart.

Reaches maturity in about 5–10 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant). · watch for woolly aphid.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June · pink

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, October–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

What to plant now (October) full list in October (244) →

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 40 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

Fire blight

Erwinia amylovora
Medium riskdiseasesource covers the whole genus
More about this problem

What you will see

Shoot dieback.

The source says: it is among the most commonly damaged plants.

When to look

Spring – autumn

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • cut out late (secondary) blossoms before they open
    • do not overdo nitrogen
  2. By hand once found, late spring – autumncut out affected parts 30 cm below the infected spot (thicker branches 60 cm) into healthy wood, disinfect tools, burn the cut-out parts
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps —No chemical product is available against fire blight
Fire blightdisease · spring – autumnMedium risk

What you will see

Shoot dieback.

The source says: it is among the most commonly damaged plants.

When to look

Spring – autumn

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • cut out late (secondary) blossoms before they open
    • do not overdo nitrogen
  2. By hand once found, late spring – autumncut out affected parts 30 cm below the infected spot (thicker branches 60 cm) into healthy wood, disinfect tools, burn the cut-out parts
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps —No chemical product is available against fire blight
More about this problem

Woolly aphid

Medium riskpest

What you will see

Colonies of dark aphids covered in white waxy fluff on the bark of branches; thickened soft swellings that may split in frost.

The source says: it is common on this cotoneaster.

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
April–October

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • check regularly from spring
    • tolerate a low infestation – it is often harmless
  2. By hand spring–summersquash colonies by hand where possible
  3. Biological all seasonencourage ladybirds, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps, ground beetles and earwigs; as shelter for earwigs, a pot loosely stuffed with hay
Woolly aphidpest · April–OctoberMedium risk

What you will see

Colonies of dark aphids covered in white waxy fluff on the bark of branches; thickened soft swellings that may split in frost.

The source says: it is common on this cotoneaster.

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
April–October

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • check regularly from spring
    • tolerate a low infestation – it is often harmless
  2. By hand spring–summersquash colonies by hand where possible
  3. Biological all seasonencourage ladybirds, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps, ground beetles and earwigs; as shelter for earwigs, a pot loosely stuffed with hay
Sources (4)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does wall cotoneaster flower?

In May–June; the flowers are pink.

Does wall cotoneaster tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does wall cotoneaster need?

At maturity 1.8–2.5 m wide and 0.6–1 m tall; recommended spacing 1.4 m.

Fire blight — what can you do?

cut out late (secondary) blossoms before they open cut out affected parts 30 cm below the infected spot (thicker branches 60 cm) into healthy wood, disinfect tools, burn the cut-out parts

Woolly aphid — what can you do?

check regularly from spring squash colonies by hand where possible

Sources (15) Checked 24 October 2026

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