Creeping Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster Adpressus ‘Little Gem’)

Features and Characteristics

Cotoneaster adpressus, sometimes commonly called creeping cotoneaster, is a prostrate, slow-growing, deciduous shrub that grows to only 1’ tall but spreads to 6’ wide. Horizontal branches may root where they touch the ground. Ovate to obovate, dark green leaves (to 1/2” long) have wavy margins. Leaves often turn a quality shade of red in fall. Five-petaled, tiny white flowers tinged with pink bloom singly or in pairs in late spring. Bees are attracted to the flowers. Flowers are followed by spherical dark red fruits (1/4” long) that mature in late summer to fall.

Genus name comes from the Latin cotonea meaning “quince” and aster meaning “resembling” or “similar to”.

Specific epithet probably refers to the prostrate plant habit (pressed against the ground).

‘Little Gem’ (considered to be synonymous with ‘Tom Thumb’) is more compact. It forms a dense, low mound to 8-12” tall, spreading over time to 3-6’ wide. It serves as an excellent ground cover. It rarely produces flowers or fruit. Small, ovate to obovate, glossy dark green leaves (to 1/2” long) have wavy margins. Leaves turn a quality shade of red in fall. The origin of ‘Little Gem’ is somewhat unclear. It has been considered to be a cultivar of several different Cotoneaster species including C. adpressus, C. apiculatus and C. horizontalis.