Cotoneaster franchetii Hedge

Franchet's Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster franchetii is a graceful, semi-evergreen hedge with arching branches, small grey-green leaves, pink-tinged white flowers in early summer and masses of orange-red berries in autumn.

It is one of the toughest hedges for coastal, windy and dry sites, and a magnet for bees and birds. Choose bare root plants from November, the cheapest way to plant it, or pot grown plants from 40cm to 100cm for most of the year.

Compare our Cotoneaster hedging.

Coastal and wind tolerant
Orange-red autumn berries
Flowers for bees
Bare root from November

Growth Rate Medium 20-40cm per year

Overall Height Small up to 3 metres

Plant Position Partial Shade, Coastal, Exposed, Full Sun

Root Types Pot Grown, Bare Root

Choose your plants

Cotoneaster franchetii Hedge Root Types

Choose from our range of Cotoneaster franchetii Hedge sizes and root types below.

Bare Root Best value · Dormant season From £2.20 per plant
Pot Grown Flexible · Available year-round From £10.95 per plant

Selected root type

Bare root Cotoneaster franchetii hedging

From £2.20 per plant 2 heights in stock

By far the most cost effective and environmentally friendly way to plant a new hedge, bare root hedging is normally available between November and April. No need for plastic pots, these plants are extra-kind to the environment

Planting window

Availability

In Season
Pre Order
Out Of Season

Step 2

Choose your height

Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.

Available height

40-60cm

Bare Root options

Bare Root
Single plants
Free UK Delivery on orders over £200
Box delivery
£2.20
£2.20 per plant

Hedge length (m)

Plants needed

6 plants per metre recommended

Available height

60-90cm

Bare Root options

Bare Root
Single plants
Free UK Delivery on orders over £200
Box delivery
£2.75
£2.75 per plant

Hedge length (m)

Plants needed

5 plants per metre recommended

Choosing your Cotoneaster franchetii plants

Bare-root plants are the cheapest way to plant a long hedge; pot-grown plants can be planted for most of the year.

Root type	Size	Plants per metre	When
Bare root	40–60cm	6	November to March
Bare root	60–90cm	5	November to March
Pot grown	40–60cm	4	Most of the year
Pot grown	60–100cm	3	Most of the year

Why plant Cotoneaster franchetii as a hedge?

Made for the coast

Franchetii's tough grey-green leaves shrug off salt spray and strong wind, so it thrives on seaside and exposed sites where many hedges brown and thin. It also copes well with dry, poor soil.

Flowers and berries for wildlife

Pink-tinged white flowers in June are covered in bees, and the orange-red berries that follow feed blackbirds, thrushes and waxwings into winter.

A softer, informal look

Its arching branches give a relaxed, natural-looking hedge rather than a hard clipped wall. It is semi-evergreen, keeping most of its leaves in a mild winter.

Our three Cotoneasters compared

	Franchetii	Lacteus	Dammeri
Leaves	Grey-green, semi-evergreen	Dark green, evergreen	Small, evergreen
Berries	Orange-red	Red, into winter	Red
Use	Informal and coastal hedges	Dense evergreen hedges	Ground cover
Height	1.5–3m	1.5–3m	Under 30cm

Compare Cotoneaster lacteus and Cotoneaster dammeri, or see all our Cotoneaster.

Choosing the right hedge

Is Cotoneaster franchetii Hedge right for you?

A great choice if you want:

Coastal, windy or exposed gardens
A wildlife hedge with flowers and berries
An informal, natural-looking hedge
Dry or poor soil
A long hedge at low cost bare root

Consider another hedge if:

You need a fully evergreen screen (choose lacteus)
You want a crisp, formal clipped hedge
The ground stays waterlogged

Compare our Cotoneaster

Buying help

Buying FAQs

What size Cotoneaster franchetii should I buy?

For a long hedge, 40–60cm or 60–90cm bare-root plants are the best value and establish quickly. Choose pot-grown 60–100cm plants for more height straight away or if you are planting outside the bare-root season.

How many Cotoneaster franchetii do I need per metre?

Plant 40–60cm bare-root plants at 6 per metre and 60–90cm at 5 per metre. Pot-grown plants go in at 4 per metre for 40–60cm and 3 per metre for larger sizes.

When is bare-root franchetii delivered?

Bare-root plants are lifted while dormant and delivered from November to March. You can pre-order now and your plants will be dispatched when the new season's stock is ready.

Is Cotoneaster franchetii evergreen?

It is semi-evergreen. In a mild winter it keeps most of its leaves; in a cold or very exposed spot it can lose some, growing fresh leaves again in spring.

Is Cotoneaster franchetii good for coastal gardens?

Yes, it is one of the best. Its leaves tolerate salt spray and strong wind, so it is often used as a first line of shelter on seaside sites.

Is Cotoneaster franchetii invasive?

It is not on the list of Cotoneaster species banned from planting in the wild in England and Wales, but birds spread the seeds, so keep it to gardens and hedges rather than next to wild or protected areas.

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