Peking Cotoneaster

Peking Cotoneaster is retained under the catalog’s scientific name, Cotoneaster lucidus, for this deciduous, rounded shrub. Glossy green leaves turn yellow to red in autumn, pale pink flowers open in late spring, and black fruits can persist into winter. ## Naming and form [Oregon State](https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/cotoneaster-lucidus) uses Hedge Cotoneaster as a common name for C. lucidus and notes that it is often confused with C. acutifolius; some authorities classify lucidus as C. acutifolius var. lucidus. The common name Peking Cotoneaster is also associated with C. acutifolius, so the display name and entered binomial are preserved here without treating those names as settled synonyms. Published size guidance varies: Oregon State describes plants 6–10 feet tall and somewhat narrower, while [Illinois Extension](https://web.extension.illinois.edu/shrubselector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=383) gives 6–10 feet for both height and spread. The existing 2.5-meter height and 1.5-meter width remain plausible within that broader guidance. ## Site and landscape use Illinois Extension reports USDA zones 3–6 and recommends full sun in moist, well-drained soil; Oregon State also lists light shade as suitable. The upright, spreading form can be used as a hedge or screen, with seasonal foliage and fruit adding interest beyond flowering. ## Maintenance Give the shrub room for its natural outline. If grown as a hedge, prune selectively to maintain the intended shape while leaving some flowering and fruiting growth.