Cotoneaster trees
Cotoneaster trees are a great choice for year-round colour and interest, producing masses of small pink or white flowers in a decorative display from May to June, followed by brightly-coloured summer-winter berries. They grow in a variety of forms from small compact specimens to elegant weeping trees, mainly with evergreen leaves. Some cotoneaster varieties have glossy, thick dark green leaves, while others have smaller oval leaves, sometimes with variegated patterns. Berries can range in colour from red through purple or black and make a perfect bird feeder to attract wildlife into your garden. The name Cotoneaster comes from the Latin for quince ('cotoneum') and for resembling ('aster'). Easy to grow and requiring minimal pruning - all cotoneasters are hardy and tolerant of poor conditions - they will grow almost anywhere and need no attention apart from cutting back if they start to get out of hand. Compact cotoneasters work well as feature trees while also being useful for screening in a small garden.