Clothing For The Garden: Cotoneaster

CLOTHING for the GARDEN

Cotoneaster

The northwest side of my house is death to plants.  I have tried woody shrubs, herbaceous material and various groundcovers.  Nothing has worked.

I was about to give up and throw some grass seed on this woeful corner, but I decided to give it one more chance.  I planted a cotoneaster and it survived, even thrived.

Two weeks ago in Kent, walking around the gardens at Pashley Manor Gardens, I was talking to one of the gardeners.  He was cutting back some euphorbia characias subsp. Wulfenii and next to that euphorbia was a cotoneaster.  

I remarked on how many uses I had seen for cotoneaster in the UK.  

"Yes, they are good clothing for the garden."

Cotoneaster is a shrub I used to dismiss.  

I have gained new respect for its beauty and its utility.

All photos copyright Phyllis Odessey.  No usage without permission.