(Syn. 'Royal Beauty') By far the heaviest-fruiting Cotoneaster, Coral Beauty brings new beauty to every season. This evergreen groundcover greets spring with a profusion of 1/2-inch starry white blooms, followed by coral-red round fruits that arise in autumn and remain well into winter, brilliant against the small, finely textured evergreen foliage.
Compact and very easy to grow, Coral Beauty reaches 1 to 2 feet high and up to 6 feet wide, spreading very rapidly in sun or light shade. Drought tolerant and wind resistant, it thrives in either moist or dry soil, its glossy foliage scrambling across bare banks or through rock gardens. A fine addition to the border, it fills in space without becoming invasive, and always looks its best. The 1/4-inch-diameter fruits (actually pomes) bring in songbirds and really liven up the garden during those "in between" periods when nothing seems to be in bloom. Cut as many of the fruiting stems as you like for indoor arrangements as well; Coral Beauty is far more heavily fruiting than others, and always has plenty to spare.
Native to Central China, this evergreen prostrate shrub is easy to grow and long-lived. It responds well to espaliering, and is content in containers as well as the garden. Zones 5-7.
