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WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

17.) PHOTINIA & COTONEASTER

PHOTINIA Lindl.

  • Photinia davidiana (Decne.) Cardot (Stranvaesia) General Very Rare Widely grown as an ornamental shrub in public green spaces. A single bird-sown plant was found growing out of the sheer rock face below the Clifton Suspension Bridge on the Bristol side of the Avon Gorge in 1999 by L. Houston and another was found at Rodway Hill in 2012 by R. Homan.

[There are other records made by R. Bland growing in gardens]

COTONEASTER Medik.

Subgenus CHAENOPETALUM (Koehne) G. Klotz

  • Cotoneaster frigidus Wall. ex Lindl. (Tree Cotoneaster) / General Uncommon Widely planted for ornament and sometimes found bird-sown in old quarries, rocky grassy slopes, walls, railway banks and roadsides.

  • Cotoneaster frigidus x C. salicifolius = C. x watereri Exell (Waterer's Cotoneaster) / General Uncommon Widely planted for ornament as for C. frigidus and found as a bird-sown escape in much the same places.

  • Cotoneaster salicifolius Franch. (var. salicifolius) (Willow-leaved Cotoneaster) / Woodland Scarce Widely planted for ornament (often used in car park planting schemes) and sometimes escapes. Usually found as single bird-sown saplings or small trees in scrub and woodland close to habitation.

  • Cotoneaster salicifolius x C. dammeri = C. x 'Hybridus Pendulus' (Weeping Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction; found at Lyncombe, Bath in 2014 by G. Barrett. This plant of garden origin naturally has a low sprawling habit but is often grafted onto the top of a tall-growing species [C. salicifolius?] to produce a pendent standard.

  • Cotoneaster glaucophyllus Franch. (Glaucous Cotoneaster) General Very Rare Very rare introduction. A single mature fruiting shrub was found on the Leigh Woods side of the Avon Gorge in 2023 by S. Thomas - a first record for the region.

[Record needs to be entered onto DB. Photos can be found on Sam Thomas' Flickr account (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sjthomasbotany4/53264901023/)]

  • Cotoneaster lacteus W.W. Sm. (C. coriaceus Franch.) (Late Cotoneaster) / General Scarce One of the most frequently planted Cotoneasters; now widely established as bird-sown shrubs in scrub, old quarries, on rocky slopes, railway banks and walls.

  • Cotoneaster bacillaris Wall. ex Lindl. (C. affinis Lindl.) (Open-fruited Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction. Two mature (probably originally planted) shrubs were found in separate places amongst scrub to the north and east of Royal Meadow, Blaise Castle in 2022 by D. Peters.

  • Cotoneaster conspicuus C. Marquand (Tibetan Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction. One tiny, heavily trampled plant was found bird-sown from a nearby source on the old Castle ruins at Castle Park in 2022 by D. Peters.

  • Cotoneaster sherriffii G. Clotz (Sherriff's Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction. A large mature bird-sown specimen was found at Hengrove Mounds in 2023 during a Bristol Naturalists' Society field meeting and identified as this by D. Peters.

  • Cotoneaster integrifolius (Roxb.) G. Klotz (Entire-leaved Cotoneaster) / General Uncommon Widely grown for ornament and as ground cover; particularly in car park planting schemes. It frequently escapes and becomes established in rocky grassland, cliffs, quarries and walls - where it can become problematic and smothers out native flora.

  • Cotoneaster marginatus (Loudon) Schltdl. (Fringed Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction. A large patch was discovered growing on the old station at Winscombe in 1997 by J.P. Martin and determined by J. Fryer. Also recorded at Clifton Down in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Cotoneaster microphyllus Wall. ex Lindl. (Small-leaved Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction but the first Cotoneaster to be recorded in the region. According to White (1912), it is "Frequent on the limestone hills of the district" though It is not known how accurate theses historic determinations were: "Clifton Down near the Zoological Gardens" and "The 'Gully' near Sea Walls...A bush on a slope of Nightingale Valley, Leigh Woods; F. Samson. But this may prove to be C. simonsii, one of the shrubs used in planting coverts. Strawberry Hill, Clevedon. The Roman encampment, Weston-super-Mare. A couple of ancient bushes grow from chinks in exposed rock above the Battleaxes Inn, Wraxall; certainly not planted and quite possibly in being before the neighbouring houses were built. Several bushes among furze etc. in an open warren near the top of West Hill, Wraxall. These are likewise of considerable age. Several on a limestone outcrop on Tickenham Hill. A gnarled old bush on Hampton Rocks near Bath...Miss Peck. Several in a lane at Fortnight [Combe Hay]".

More recently only recorded from Tytherington in 1990s by ? and at Winscombe in 2010s by ? [BSBI Records].

  • Cotoneaster uva-ursi (Lindl.) G. Don (Round-leaved Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction. Recorded at Bathford in 2010s by ? [BSBI record] and as a relic of planting along a lane-side just off Maple Road, Bishopston, Bristol in 2022 by D. Peters.

  • Cotoneaster dammeri C.K. Schneid. (Bearberry Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction. Recorded at East Bristol in 1970s by ?; Yanley, south-west of Bristol in 2020s by ? [BSBI records] and a single, heavily nibbled shrub was found in the Gully, Avon Gorge in 2023 by D. Peters.

  • Cotoneaster dammeri x C. conspicuus = C. x suecicus G. Klotz (Swedish Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction. Recorded to the east of the region at Freezinghill near Cold Ashton in 2010s by ? [BSBI record]; also a trailing bush was found escaping and rooting from over the wall of a garden on the edge of Horfield Common, Bristol in 2023 by D. Peters.

  • Cotoneaster prostratus Baker (Procumbent Cotoneaster) / General Very Rare A very rare introduction; found growing on a churchyard wall at West Harptree in 1989 by R.M. Payne and determined by J. Fryer. It still persisted here when revisited in 2003 by P.R. Green and in 2014 by J.P. Martin.

Subgenus COTONEASTER

  • Cotoneaster rotundifolius Wall. ex Lindl. (Distichous Cotoneaster - Stace / Round-leaved Cotoneaster - NBN) General Very Rare A very rare introduction; found to be well-established on steep grassy slopes at Brown's Folly in 1998 by I.P. Green and determined by J. Fryer. It still occurred here when visited in 2009 by J.P. Martin.

  • Cotoneaster simonsii Baker (Himalayan Cotoneaster) General Uncommon A widespread introduction; found established in old quarries, derelict sites, walls, hedgerows, scrub and woodland; mainly around Bristol.

  • Cotoneaster atropurpureus Flinck & B. Hylmö (Purple-flowered Cotoneaster) General Extinct Occurred in the Avon Gorge when it was recorded in the 1990s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Cotoneaster divaricatus Rehder & E.H. Wilson (Spreading Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction; first recorded on the top of a wall at Tyning, Radstock in 1998 by P.R. Green and determined by J. Fryer; then found at Leigh Woods in 2000s by ? [BSBI record]; and most recently from Frenchay in 2019 by R.J. Higgins.

  • Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii Flinck & B. Hylmö (Hjelmqvist's Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction; first recorded on a wall above a stream in Chew Stoke, North Somerset in 1998 by I.P. Green and determined by J. Fryer; then found at Ashton Gate? in 1990s by ?; and most recently at Nailsea in 2010s by ? [BSBI records].

  • Cotoneaster horizontalis Decne. (Wall Cotoneaster) / General Frequent An extremely invasive species and by far the most common Cotoneaster in the region; thoroughly established on rocky cliffs, old quarries, roadsides, grassland, dry banks and walls. It has become highly problematic to our rare native flora; particularly in the Avon Gorge as it is able to take a foothold in the most inaccessible places which were traditionally safe from competition and other threats. Perpetual regular maintenance is needed to control this species. Now listed as Schedule 9 invasive under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, meaning it is an offence to allow or cause it to escape into the wild. All Cotoneaster's have the potential to become invasive and they should all be outright banned.

now banned from UK garden centre's but it still slips in under other horticultural names and garden centre's have a habit of muddling up and incorrectly naming Cotoneaster's in general.

  • Cotoneaster mucronatus Franch. (C. acuminatus Lindl.) (Mucronate Cotoneaster) 1955 General Extinct Noted in the Flora of the Bristol Region in the extinct species list as being recorded in 1955 but is not on the BRERC database and no more can be said.

[Find out!]

  • Cotoneaster bullatus Bois (Hollyberry Cotoneaster) /- General Scarce An established introduction; found sparsely scattered over the region in hedgerows, woodland, railway banks, old quarries and walls.

  • Cotoneaster rehderi Pojark. (Bullate Cotoneaster) General Scarce Widely grown for ornament and becoming established in woodland, scrub, cemeteries and old quarries; usually found as single shrubs.

  • Cotoneaster franchetii Bois (Franchet's Cotoneaster) / General Uncommon A widespread introduction; growing on walls and rocky places such as old quarries and limestone cliffs. Once established it can become problematic towards rare and native flora - as is the case in the Avon Gorge. It is possibly over-recorded for C. sternianus.

  • Cotoneaster vilmorinianus G. Klotz (Vilmorin's Cotoneaster) General Very Rare A very rare introduction but no recent records; formerly found in scrubby grassland by the railway line at Montpelier, Bristol where it was recorded by M.A.R.K. & C. Kitchen, A.L. Grenfell and M.J. Trotman and determined by J. Fryer; also found on a railway viaduct at Royate Hill, Bristol (adjacent to Green Bank Cemetery) in 1995 by J.P. Martin; and recorded at Pensford, North Somerset in 1990s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Cotoneaster sternianus (Turrill) Boom (Stern's Cotoneaster) / General Uncommon Formerly a rare introduction but now one of the most frequent Cotoneasters in the Bristol region; established widely in hedges, scrub, old quarries and on walls. It is probably under-recorded for C. franchetii.

  • Cotoneaster dielsianus E. Pritz. ex Diels (Diels' Cotoneaster) / General Very Rare A very rare introduction; only recorded once since 2000 - on the top of an old brick wall on Maple Road, Bishopston, Bristol in 2021 by D. Peters. Past records include: on a churchyard wall at Chew Magna and on a wall in East Dundry in 1989 by R.M. Payne and determined by J. Fryer; at Winscombe, North Somerset in 1989 by J. Griffiths; at Royate Hill, Bristol in 1995 by J.P. Martin and M.A.R.K. & C. Kitchen, determined by J. Fryer; Leigh Woods in 1990s by ?; and Avon Gorge in 1990s by ? [BSBI records].

  • Cotoneaster cambricus J. Fryer & B. Hylmö (Wild Cotoneaster) General Very Rare Recorded on North Road, Leigh Woods in 2012 by K. Bust.

[This is Britain's only native Cotoneaster; restricted to Great Orme's Head, Caernarvonshire. Get rid of record.]

List:

  • Photinia davidiana (Decne.) Cardot (Stranvaesia) General
  • Cotoneaster frigidus Wall. ex Lindl. (Tree Cotoneaster) / General
  • Cotoneaster frigidus x C. salicifolius = C. x watereri Exell (Waterer's Cotoneaster) / General
  • Cotoneaster salicifolius Franch. (var. salicifolius - Kew, GBIF) (Willow-leaved Cotoneaster) / Woodland
  • Cotoneaster salicifolius x C. dammeri = C. x 'Hybridus Pendulus' (Weeping Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster glaucophyllus Franch. (Glaucous Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster lacteus W.W. Sm. (C. coriaceus Franch. - Kew, GBIF) (Late Cotoneaster) / General
  • Cotoneaster bacillaris Wall. ex Lindl. (C. affinis Lindl. - Kew, GBIF) (Open-fruited Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster conspicuus C. Marquand (Tibetan Cotoneaster) General - Castle Park
  • Cotoneaster sherriffii G. Clotz (Sherriff's Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster integrifolius (Roxb.) G. Klotz (Entire-leaved Cotoneaster) / General
  • Cotoneaster marginatus (Loudon) Schltdl. (Fringed Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster microphyllus Wall. ex Lindl. (Small-leaved Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster uva-ursi (Lindl.) G. Don (Round-leaved Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster dammeri C.K. Schneid. (Bearberry Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster dammeri x C. conspicuus = C. x suecicus G. Klotz (Swedish Cotoneaster) General

  • Cotoneaster prostratus Baker (Procumbent Cotoneaster) / General

  • Cotoneaster rotundifolius Wall. ex Lindl. (Distichous Cotoneaster - Stace / Round-leaved Cotoneaster - NBN) General

  • Cotoneaster simonsii Baker (Himalayan Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster atropurpureus Flinck & B. Hylmö (Purple-flowered Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster divaricatus Rehder & E.H. Wilson (Spreading Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii Flinck & B. Hylmö (Hjelmqvist's Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster horizontalis Decne. (Wall Cotoneaster) / General
  • Cotoneaster mucronatus Franch. (C. acuminatus Lindl. - Kew, GBIF) (Mucronate Cotoneaster) 1955 General
  • Cotoneaster bullatus Bois (Hollyberry Cotoneaster) /- General
  • Cotoneaster rehderi Pojark. (Bullate Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster franchetii Bois (Franchet's Cotoneaster) / General
  • Cotoneaster vilmorinianus G. Klotz (Vilmorin's Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster sternianus (Turrill) Boom (Stern's Cotoneaster) / General
  • Cotoneaster dielsianus E. Pritz. ex Diels (Diels' Cotoneaster) / General
  • Cotoneaster cambricus J. Fryer & B. Hylmö (Wild Cotoneaster) General

Species to add:

  • Cotoneaster salicifolius x C. dammeri = C. x 'Hybridus Pendulus' (Weeping Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster glaucophyllus Franch. (Glaucous Cotoneaster) General - Found on the Leigh Woods side of the Avon Gorge in 2023 by Sam Thomas - see Flickr
  • Cotoneaster bacillaris Wall. ex Lindl. (C. affinis Lindl. - Kew, GBIF) (Open-fruited Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster conspicuus C. Marquand (Tibetan Cotoneaster) General - Castle Park
  • Cotoneaster sherriffii G. Clotz (Sherriff's Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster microphyllus Wall. ex Lindl. (Small-leaved Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster uva-ursi (Lindl.) G. Don (Round-leaved Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster dammeri C.K. Schneid. (Bearberry Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster dammeri x C. conspicuus = C. x suecicus G. Klotz (Swedish Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster atropurpureus Flinck & B. Hylmö (Purple-flowered Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster rehderi Pojark. (Bullate Cotoneaster) General
  • Cotoneaster cambricus J. Fryer & B. Hylmö (Wild Cotoneaster) General

Could occur:

  • Cotoneaster thymifolius Wall. ex Lindl. (Thyme-leaved Cotoneaster)
  • Cotoneaster insculptus Diels (Engraved Cotoneaster)

check flickr account