Willowleaf Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster salicifolius · Rosaceae (Rose family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, evergreen
Shape
Lanceolate to narrowly elliptic
Margin
Entire (smooth) with slightly wavy edges
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate with a very prominent, sunken midrib and deeply impressed lateral veins
Key Features
Extremely narrow, lanceolate leaves with deeply impressed veins creating a wrinkled texture, combined with arching stems and persistent red berries
Description
Willowleaf Cotoneaster is a large, graceful evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub with arching branches. Its distinctively long, narrow, willow-like leaves give it an elegant, fine-textured appearance. In spring, it produces clusters of small white flowers, followed by abundant bright red to orange-red berries in autumn that persist well into winter.
Habitat
Thrives in full sun to partial shade, adaptable to various well-drained soils, often found in scrublands, rocky slopes, and cultivated gardens
Native Range
Native to western China (Sichuan, Hubei), widely introduced and cultivated as an ornamental shrub in temperate regions worldwide