What: The smoky gray-green foliage of Cotoneaster glaucophyllus adds a sense of depth and mystery to the landscape. The low arching branches of this evergreen shrub form tight thickets, making it an excellent hedge or barrier. Following its clusters of showy white flowers throughout spring, by late summer each branch sparkles with the bright ember-red berries that glow on the bush until winter’s end. Like many of its relatives, this cotoneaster has an iron constitution, which tolerates the vulgarities of our harsh urban environment. It is tolerant of drought and poor soils, and while it might be easy to relegate this plant to the worst part of the garden, it deserves so much better. The bold leaves of Mahonia or the red tones of Nandina would create lovely contrasts.
Where: This tough cotoneaster grows best in well drained soil, but it will tolerate sandy soil and clay. It will flower and fruit most heavily in full sun, but will still give a good show in light or open shade.
Size: Gray-leaf cotoneaster grows to be 4 feet tall and 8 feet wide when mature.
Care: It is fully drought tolerant, once established. Almost no pruning is necessary to maintain its shrubby habit.
— Richie Steffen, Great Plant Picks
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