What soil does Rockspray cotoneaster grow in?

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

Is Rockspray cotoneaster hardy?

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

Is Rockspray cotoneaster toxic to children?

Yes, it is mildly toxic to children.

When does Rockspray cotoneaster flower?

Flowering: May–June, pink, white.

How much water does Rockspray cotoneaster need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Rockspray cotoneaster cost?

It sells for roughly €8.90 to €54 in local shops, depending on size.

Rockspray cotoneaster

Cotoneaster horizontalis

Rockspray cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) is a ground cover plant. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Mildly toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €8.90.

Illustration of Rockspray 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 slow, flat-spreading shrub with herringbone branches and tiny glossy leaves that turn red in autumn, followed by red berries that last into winter. Good on banks, at the foot of walls and in rock gardens, and it will fan up against a wall; bees work the flowers and birds eat the berries. Birds also carry the seed around, so do not plant it near wild land, dry grassland or woodland edges, and keep the berries away from small children.

Watch out for

Susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora), so keep it away from apple, pear and quince plantings; infected wood has to be cut back hard. Leaf spot, canker, lace bug and cotoneaster webworm occur, and spider mites in hot, dry spots. Dead leaves and rubbish caught in the dense branches are hard to clean out. Bird-sown seedlings escape in Central Europe too, mainly into dry calcareous grassland and woodland edges: in Switzerland it is an invasive species that has been banned from sale since 2024, and it has turned up in a protected area near Budapest.

Considered invasive in a neighbouring country

It isn't listed here, but don't plant it near natural habitats, woodland or water, and don't leave the clippings outside the garden.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 70 cm × 1.8 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–June, pink, white

Group	Ground cover
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	70 cm × 1.8 m
Ultimate size	60–90 cm × 1.8–2.4 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–June, pink, white
Water need	Medium
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	100 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic
Typical price	from about €8.90

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
size not stated	approx. €8.90 – €54

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 Plants with autumn colour

Looks good next to it

Common yew

Taxus baccata

Black mondo grass

Ophiopogon planiscapus

Oregon grape

Mahonia aquifolium