Cotoneaster integrifolius
Entire-leaved cotoneaster
(c) Leonora Enking, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Cotoneaster integrifolius (Entire-leaved cotoneaster) is a non-native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by blunt/notched leaf tips, glaucous fruits, low sprawling habit.
Entire-leaved cotoneaster is a naturalized shrub found in the San Francisco Bay Area and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed conifer forest and brushy slopes at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers with red-purple anthers in clusters 7 to 15 millimeters wide. Growing as a sprawling evergreen shrub 0.5 to 1 meter tall, it has a distinctive spreading habit. Its leaves are narrowly oblanceolate, 8 to 15 millimeters long, with shiny surfaces, inrolled margins, and blunt tips. The fruit is a deep red, glaucous drupe 7 to 9 millimeters long, appearing from August to March.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; blunt/notched leaf tips, glaucous fruits, low sprawling habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed conifer forest, brushy slopes
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: San Diego, Santa Cruz
Outside California: Oregon, native to Asia
Bloom period
Cotoneaster integrifolius blooms Apr-Jun, fruiting Aug--Mar.
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 integrifolius native to California?
No. Cotoneaster integrifolius is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Cotoneaster integrifolius bloom?
Cotoneaster integrifolius blooms Apr-Jun, fruiting Aug--Mar.
Where in California does Cotoneaster integrifolius grow?
Cotoneaster integrifolius occurs in San Diego, Santa Cruz, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Cotoneaster integrifolius belong to?
Cotoneaster integrifolius is in the Rosaceae family, genus Cotoneaster.
What habitat does Cotoneaster integrifolius grow in?
Cotoneaster integrifolius grows in Disturbed conifer forest, brushy slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.