Marks for the juicy red berries 65%, for the colourful leaves 25%, for the arching branches 25% and for arithmetic 12%.

Cotoneaster Information

• An important genus of hardy ornamental shrubs ranging from prostrate to 10 feet high varieties. They tolerate most soil and conditions some growing up north facing walls.
• As can be seen the leaves turn from green to strong autumn colours and most varieties bear fruit much loved by the birds in my garden.
• Small white flowers can smother the branches in June and they attract bees and hover flies but are not troubled by pest or disease.
• My horizontalis has herring bone style branches covering a 2 foot wall and 6 square yards of an ugly, old patio.
• My ‘Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs’ (a great Christmas present for the enthusiast) lists over 70 species with short write-ups on each and the RHS Plant Finder tells you where to source them.