Cotoneaster frigidus
Tree cotoneaster
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Cotoneaster frigidus (Tree cotoneaster) is a non-native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by only deciduous tree-sized species with large dull leaves.
Tree cotoneaster is a naturalized shrub found in the San Francisco Bay Area on northern-facing canyon slopes and thickets at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white flowers with spreading petals that are generally tufted-hairy and 8 to 13 millimeters wide. Growing 5 to 15 meters tall with arching branches, the shrub forms a deciduous, spreading habit. Its leaves are narrowly elliptic, 55 to 150 millimeters long, with a dull surface and acute tip, appearing slightly hairy on the underside. The fruit is a distinctive nearly spheric red berry 5 to 7 millimeters wide, containing two stones.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; only deciduous tree-sized species with large dull leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: N-facing canyon slopes, thickets
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: native to Himalayan Asia
Bloom period
Cotoneaster frigidus blooms May-Jun, fruiting Sep--Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Pyracantha: Pyracantha has thorns; Cotoneaster is thornless with smooth stems.; vs Heteromeles: Heteromeles has sharp-toothed leaf edges; Cotoneaster has completely smooth leaf margins.; vs Frangula: Frangula has prominent parallel leaf veins curving toward the tip; Cotoneaster has typical pinnate venation.; vs Rhamnus: Rhamnus has finely toothed leaves; Cotoneaster has completely smooth leaf edges.; vs Ceanothus: Ceanothus has three main veins from the leaf base; Cotoneaster has standard single-midrib venation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cotoneaster frigidus native to California?
No. Cotoneaster frigidus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Cotoneaster frigidus bloom?
Cotoneaster frigidus blooms May-Jun, fruiting Sep--Oct.
What plant family does Cotoneaster frigidus belong to?
Cotoneaster frigidus is in the Rosaceae family, genus Cotoneaster.
What habitat does Cotoneaster frigidus grow in?
Cotoneaster frigidus grows in N-facing canyon slopes, thickets.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.