Bearberry cotoneaster vs Willowleaf cotoneaster

Bearberry cotoneaster and Willowleaf cotoneaster are often considered for the same spot in the garden (ground cover, pollinator friendly). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Bearberry cotoneaster

Cotoneaster dammeri 30 cm × 2 m after 10 years

A ground-hugging, fast-spreading evergreen shrub whose shoots root wherever they touch the soil, weaving a dense carpet within a few years. It has…

Ground cover

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 45

Willowleaf cotoneaster

Cotoneaster salicifolius 40 cm × 2 m after 10 years

Nurseries mostly sell its low, prostrate cultivars ('Parkteppich', 'Repens', 'Gnom'): these weave a carpet 20 to 50 cm high and up to two metres…

Ground cover

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 45

Key differences

Willowleaf cotoneaster grows larger: 40 cm × 2 m after ten years, against 30 cm × 2 m for Bearberry cotoneaster.
Bearberry cotoneaster is hardier: down to -29 °C, against -23 °C for Willowleaf cotoneaster.
Bearberry cotoneaster also takes chalky soil, Willowleaf cotoneaster prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk.
Bearberry cotoneaster also takes heavy clay, Willowleaf cotoneaster needs a loose, free-draining soil.

Which one to choose?

Bearberry cotoneaster is the better choice if space is tight, the garden is cold or a frost pocket, the soil is chalky or the soil is heavy clay.

Watch out for

Bearberry cotoneaster

In Central Europe the main concern is fire blight (Erwinia amylovora), a dangerous bacterial disease: shoot tips turn brown as if scorched. Cotoneasters are known hosts of the pathogen, so do not plant it near apple, pear or quince trees. In hot, dry summers spider mites and lace bugs can attack the leaves, and scale insects and aphids also occur. It can escape from gardens into nearby natural habitats and is recorded among potentially invasive species in Germany, so do not plant it next to protected natural areas.

Willowleaf cotoneaster

Among cotoneasters it is particularly susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora): shoots that turn brown and hook over must be cut back hard, and it should not be planted near apple, pear or quince. Scale insects, spider mites and aphids can also damage it. In the hardest Central European winters the foliage may scorch or drop, and it reshoots in spring. Birds spread the berries and garden escapes have been recorded, so keep it away from semi-natural land.

The data side by side

Feature	Bearberry cotoneaster	Willowleaf cotoneaster
Group	Ground cover	Ground cover
Size after 10 years	30 cm × 2 m	40 cm × 2 m
Ultimate size	20–45 cm × 1.2–2.5 m	20–90 cm × 1.5–2.5 m (uncertain)
Growth rate	Fast	Fast (uncertain)
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Sandy, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium	no data
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen
Flowering	May–June, white	May–June, white
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	60 cm	70 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic	Mildly toxic
Typical price	approx. CZK 45	approx. CZK 45

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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