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Orange cotoneaster fruit. Photo Credit: John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org -
Orange cotoneaster leaves. Photo Credit: John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org -
Orange cotoneaster. Photo Credit: John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org -
Orange cotoneaster. Photo Credit: John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Also known as: cotoneaster, Franchet’s cotoneaster
Orange cotoneaster is an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub that can grow to be 10 feet (3 meters) tall. It was originally introduced as an ornamental but has become invasive, particularly in coastal areas. Each plant produces thousands of berries every year which allows it to spread rapidly.
Description:
| Life Cycle: | Perennial (life cycle lasts more than one year) |
| Early Detection and Rapid Response species: | Yes |
| Height: | Up to 10 feet (3 meters) |
| Leaf Description: | Oval leaves are broad and dull grey-green on top and covered with felty hairs on bottom. They may appear silver or white from a distance. |
| Fruit & Flower Description: | Small, pink flowers grow in tight clusters. The flowers give way to numerous round, long-lasting orange-red berries which ripen in the fall. |
| Bloom Time: | July |
Habitat:
- Orange cotoneaster can be commonly found in agricultural areas, grasslands, and forest understories. It particularly thrives in coastal areas.
- It grows in full sun to part shade and prefers soils that have good drainage.
Impact:
- Orange cotoneaster is a dense shrub which can crowd out native plants and overtake areas. This leads to a reduction of biodiversityBiodiversity The variety of species present. in forest understories.
- Each plant can produce thousands of berries each year, providing ample opportunity for spread.
What you can do about it:
- Please report any orange cotoneaster infestation to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline.
- Seedlings and individual plants can be dug up by hand.
- However, stumps and roots can resprout, so whenever treating orange cotoneaster make sure to remove the entire root system and dispose of the plant in a plastic bag in the trash—not your yard waste bin or home compost.
- Weed wrenches can assist with removing smaller orange cotoneaster shrubs. If you are in Washington County, we lend these tools for free from our tool library.
Noxious Weed Listing:
| State of Oregon: | Not Listed |
| State of Washington: | Not Listed |
More Resources:
Download the Orange Cotoneaster Best Management Practices Factsheet
- University of California, Weed Research & Information Center: Cotoneasters