When to Plant Cotoneaster?

Spring Planting

• Planting time varies by climate but is generally done as early in spring as possible. In general, plant your cotoneaster plant as soon as the ground thaws enough to be workable. This early season planting ensures that the plant has time to establish roots by late springtime, which is when the flowers begin to bloom. The flowers will stay on the plant until winter time, and many cultivars feature evergreen leaves.

Fall Planting

• Some types of cotoneaster can bloom early in the spring; to get this bloom, you would have to plant in the fall of the year before. This can be done after the growing season in later fall or early winter, before frost sets in and as the plants are preparing to go dormant, but this puts your plant at risk for damage over winter. Also, the bunching, covering spread of the plant will often catch and hold dead leaves, creating a mess for you to clean up in the spring before blooming begins.

Where to Plant

• Cotoneaster grows best in full sun or partial shade, so plant it in an area of your garden that receives four to six hours of full sunlight daily. The plant prefers quick-draining soil; it is better that the soil dry out a little between watering than that it hold excess water. Once the plant is established, it is extremely drought tolerant. When planting, be sure to find out the size specifications of your chose cultivar of cotoneaster; some only grow to 6 inches high, while others can reach 7 feet. In general, it will need a large area to spread width-wise.

What to Plant

• Cotoneasters are slow-growing plants that take a long time to develop a strong root system. Instead of planting seeds or small cuttings, go with plants that are already started in containers or burlap sacks. These plants are available from reputable garden centers and nurseries. Pre-established plantings mean that you will get a bloom in the spring after you plant the cotoneaster, instead of having to wait a season or more before you see any production.