Fauna
Plant

Peking Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster acutifolius

Also known as Pekin Cotoneaster, Pointed-Leaved Cotoneaster

Peking cotoneaster forms a dense, fountain-like shrub famed for its dark green leaves that turn brilliant orange and red in autumn. Small, soft-pink spring blossoms give way to abundant egg-shaped berries that darken to blue-black and linger into winter. Highly adaptable and cold-hardy, it provides crucial winter food and shelter for urban birds.

ShrubDeciduousCold-Hardy
Peking Cotoneaster reference
(c) Jane Charlen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic
Predators
  • Deer
  • Rabbits
  • Cedar Waxwings
ThreatsFire blight, habitat displacement in non-native regions
HabitatsThickets, mountain slopes, forest edges, suburban hedges
Life span30–50 years
Classification
  1. FamilyRosaceae
  2. SpeciesCotoneaster acutifolius
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Berries contain mild toxins and wild berries have toxic look-alikes; do not ingest.
Why it is dangerous
Seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides that can break down into cyanide and cause digestive distress if eaten in quantity.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognize by dark green pointed leaves, pink spring flowers, and small oval blue-black berries.
What to do
Do not eat wild berries and keep pets from chewing on fallen branches or fruit.
Responsible observation
  • Hedge Maintenance: Prune in late winter or early spring to preserve shape and flower production.
  • Bird Watching: Observe late autumn hedges to spot migratory birds feeding on persistent fruit.
Related species
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