Cotoneaster praecox

Cotoneaster praecox - Nan-Shan Cotoneaster

General:
The Nan-Shan cotoneaster is common in western China, Sichuan Province, and the Nan-Shan Mountains. It grows there as a low dwarf shrub with a height of no more than a meter, but then often twice as wide. The leaves are small, shiny dark green and turn bright red in autumn. The numerous flowers are pink and appear in May. The Nan Shan Cotoneaster is very robust and tolerates different locations.

Care as a bonsai:
The Nan-Shan cotoneaster, like other dwarf cotoneaster, is very suitable for decorating bonsai. The leaves, flowers and fruits are small and the plants are very easy on pruning. The branches can also be wired and bent without any problems. It is also suitable as underplanting for forests or landscapes (Saikei). The special thing about the Nan-Shan cotoneaster are the deciduous leaves. When the leaves fall in autumn, the branch structure becomes visible and the numerous fruits also come into their own. The Nan Shan cotoneaster actually loves a sunny spot outdoors, although it can also thrive in the shade. The lighter the location, the more pronounced the bloom and fruit formation. The autumn color is then also more intense.