Shrub/tree identification - Ask Extension
I have several of these bushes in my backyard I would like identified. We would like to know so we can properly care for them.
Knowledgebase
Shrub/tree identification #714120
Asked August 16, 2020, 7:56 PM EDT
I have several of these bushes in my backyard I would like identified. We would like to know so we can properly care for them.
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
I believe the shrubs are Cotoneaster. They are native to Colorado, don't require lots of water, and provide berries that the birds eat later in the fall. Most species like a protected exposure, sun to part shade, and low to moderate moisture.
Thank you for getting back to me on the shrub. I really appreciate it! Kelly
Kelly: just a note to add to Charlotte's response: there are native cotoneasters but, of course, many ornamental varieties as well. I have some that receive drip irrigation but do not require a lot of water. As members of the rose family, I have sometimes seen evidence of the bacterial disease 'fireblight,' which can occur in very wet springs. But that is not common and certainly easy to manage.
Overall, this plant does not require a lot of care. One management strategy I would recommend if the shrubs become too dense is 'renewal pruning' to encourage growth of new flowering stems. You can remove as many as 1/3 of the oldest stems (to the ground), especially those interior stems that appear dead or have few leaves. You also can trim the branches to reduce height, cutting just above a bud.
Overall, this plant does not require a lot of care. One management strategy I would recommend if the shrubs become too dense is 'renewal pruning' to encourage growth of new flowering stems. You can remove as many as 1/3 of the oldest stems (to the ground), especially those interior stems that appear dead or have few leaves. You also can trim the branches to reduce height, cutting just above a bud.
