Rockspray Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster Horizontalis) 20 seeds (#142)

This is one of the prettier garden cotoneaster. This sprawling, deciduous shrub has herringbone-like branches that are attractive all season. Chinese in origin, it has small, round, dark green leaves that turn terrific shades of orange and red in fall. While each not individually impressive, it produces hundreds of pinkish-white flowers in late spring. The pretty berry fruits that follow turn bright red in fall and linger into the winter until they are eaten by birds.
Rockspray cotoneaster can withstand practically any well-drained soil. It grows best in full sun but will tolerate lightly shade. Established plants are quite drought tolerant and withstand Oceanside conditions. Prune selectively if at all. Many a rockspray cotoneaster has been destroyed by overzealous gardeners with pruners in hand. The plants naturally develop interesting, tiered branches with herringbone patterns.
If planted in groups along hillsides or in big beds, this cotoneaster creates quite a statement in the landscape. It is also suitable as a specimen for foundation plantings and can even be espaliered against walls. All are susceptible to fireblight and other fungal diseases that commonly plague rosaceous plants.
Rockspray cotoneaster can withstand practically any well-drained soil. It grows best in full sun but will tolerate lightly shade. Established plants are quite drought tolerant and withstand Oceanside conditions. Prune selectively if at all. Many a rockspray cotoneaster has been destroyed by overzealous gardeners with pruners in hand. The plants naturally develop interesting, tiered branches with herringbone patterns. (source: learn2grow.com)

Genus - Cotoneaster
Species - Horizontalis
Common name - Rockspray Cotoneaster
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 5 - 7
Height - 2-3' / 0,60 - 0,90 m
Spread - 5-8' / 1,50 - 2,40 m
Plant type - Small Shrub
Vegetation type - Ornamental deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Well Drained
Water requirements - Drought tolerant, average water
Landscape uses - Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Bloom season - Late Spring
Leaf / Flower color - Green / Pink, Light Pink

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Rub each seed lightly with a nail file softening the hull. Store the seeds in a plastic bag filled with moist sand inside the refrigerator for 3 months to cold-stratify them.
2. Sow the cotoneaster seeds in 10-15 cm (~5") plastic pots filled with sterile loam. Sow two seeds in each pot to a depth of the seed size. Sprinkling sand across the soil’s surface helps slow the evaporation rate.
3. Place the potted cotoneaster seeds on a propagation mat near a source of very bright light. Set the temperature on the propagation mat to +25C (77F) for nine hours each day. Adjust the temperature to +12C (55F) for the remainder of the day.
4. Water the cotoneaster seeds as often as necessary maintaining moisture in the top one-half inch of soil at all times. Add the water very slowly when irrigating keeps from disturbing the seed.
5. Watch for germination in 25 days. Remove the weaker of the two cotoneaster seedlings from each pot if both germinate. Wait until the seedlings reach 2,5-3 cm (~1") in height before thinning.
6. Move the cotoneaster seedlings to a sheltered spot outdoors with limited exposure to strong, direct sunlight. Continue watering, but allow the soil’s surface to dry slightly between waterings.
7. Slowly acclimate the cotoneaster seedlings to strong sunlight in the course of one week until they withstand full sun for five hours without wilting.
8. Transplant the cotoneaster seedlings into a sunny bed at least 75 days before the first autumn frost. Space the seedlings 3 m (10') apart. Mulching heavily around them protects their developing roots. (info source: ehow.com)