Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Corokia cotoneaster
Wire-Netting Bush
- Family
- Argophyllaceae
- Height
- 6 to 8 feet
- Width
- 4 to 6 feet
- Flower color
- Small star shaped bright yellow flowers with a light sweet fragrance
- Foliage color
- Small oval gray green leaves with silvery undersides on distinctive zigzagging dark brown to black branches
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring, often April to May
- Light
- Full sun to light partial shade
- Water
- Low to average
- Maintenance
- Low; prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 8 to 10
- Wildlife
- Bees and birds that feed on the small orange yellow berries
About this plant
Corokia cotoneaster produces small, star-shaped yellow flowers in mid to late spring, each bloom opening with narrow petals that radiate around golden centers along the wiry branches. The blossoms appear among tiny, oval leaves covered with a soft gray-green surface and silvery undersides. Zigzagging stems create an intricate framework that remains visible through the foliage, giving the plant a textured and sculptural presence throughout the year.
Native to New Zealand, Corokia cotoneaster grows naturally in coastal and rocky landscapes. In gardens it lends architectural character to borders, gravel gardens, and hedging, where the branching pattern and small leaves create year-round interest.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Coastal Gardens · Hedging & Privacy · Gravel Gardens
Companion plants
Boxwoods · Dwarf Korean fir · Bergenia · Maiden grass · Snowdrops · Agapanthus
Design tip
The dark zigzagging branches give this shrub a graphic quality that can add definition to softer, billowing plantings. Set against pale gravel or a light-colored wall, its intricate framework becomes especially noticeable, while silvery foliage and yellow flowers reinforce the contrast throughout the year.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.
