How big does Swedish cotoneaster grow?

About 50 cm × 2 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.3–1 m × 1.5–2.5 m.

What soil does Swedish cotoneaster grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Is Swedish cotoneaster hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Swedish cotoneaster toxic to children?

Yes, it is mildly toxic to children.

How much water does Swedish cotoneaster need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Swedish cotoneaster cost?

It sells for roughly €3.90 to €25 in local shops, depending on size.

Swedish cotoneaster

Cotoneaster × suecicus

Swedish cotoneaster (Cotoneaster × suecicus) is a ground cover plant that reaches 50 cm × 2 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Mildly toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €3.90.

Illustration of Swedish cotoneaster — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A low, densely spreading evergreen shrub whose trailing shoots root where they touch the soil, so within a few years it knits into a weed-suppressing carpet for banks, wall tops and larger areas. Small white flowers that bees like cover it in May and June, followed by orange-red berries that last into midwinter. The cultivars 'Coral Beauty' and 'Skogholm' are often sold under the name of bearberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri), which is a separate species; the Swedish cotoneaster is a hybrid of it.

Watch out for

Susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora): shoot tips suddenly turn brown and bend into a hook, the diseased part must be cut back well into healthy wood, and it is better kept away from apple, pear and quince. In hot, dry summers spider mites move in, scale insects and aphids also occur, and the dense mat collects leaf litter and rubbish. Escapes from gardens have been recorded in Central Europe because birds carry the berries, so do not plant it next to semi-natural land.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 50 cm × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–June, white

Group	Ground cover
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	50 cm × 2 m
Ultimate size	0.3–1 m × 1.5–2.5 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	May–June, white
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	70 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic
Typical price	from about €3.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
25-30 cm	approx. €14
40-60 cm	approx. €6
80 cm	approx. €25
size not stated	approx. €3.90 – €8.30

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Evergreen plants

Looks good next to it

Pampas grass

Cortaderia selloana

Sea thrift

Armeria maritima

Pink ceanothus

Ceanothus × pallidus