Complimentary 
NEW SERIES VOL. Vll NO. 6 
ARNOLD ARBORETUM 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
BULLETIN 
OF 
POPULAR INFORMATION 
JAMAICA PLAIN, MASS. MAY 23. 1921 
Cotoneasters. The Cotoneasters with deciduous leaves discovered by- 
Wilson in western China now form one of the interesting groups in 
the Arboretum, and among them are some of the handsomest shrubs 
of recent introduction, suitable for the decoration of northern gardens. 
Several of them are plants of exceptionally good habit with gracefully 
arching branches; the leaves on the dilferent species vary in size, color, 
and texture, and on several of the species assume brilliant autumn 
colors; the flowers are small in small clusters, but are produced in the 
greatest profusion; and in autumn the branches are covered with red 
or with black fruits. The flowering time of these plants extends 
through several weeks; and Cotoneaster-fruits enliven the collection 
from September to December. 
For the information of persons who may vrant to make a selection 
of these Cotoneasters for their gardens they may be grouped as follows: 
1. Prostrate or semiprostrate shrubs with wide-spreading branches, 
small red flowers and fruit, and small, thick, dark green leaves per- 
sistent in this climate until the beginning of winter and further south 
until early spring. The best known plant of this group, Cotoneaster 
horizontalis, was sent by a French missionary to France many years 
ago from western China. It sometimes grows from two to three feet 
high and possibly ten feet in diameter, and is well suited for covering 
banks; it is sometimes used in rock gardens and as a cover for low 
walls. Two varieties of this plant, var. Wilsonii and var. perpusilla, 
discovered by Wilson are handsome plants; the former is inclined to 
grow taller than the type, but the var. perpusilla is a much dwarfer 
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