Tree ID Please

[BillyPilgrim]

I think this is a simple one but my tree knowledge is even worse than my bird knowledge so I'd be grateful is someone could tell me what it is. (The tree that is )

[Kayleigh]

Hi BP it looks like a Cotoneaster dammeri I could be wrong
Google Image Result for http://www.vanbelle.com/images/plant%20guide/broadleaves/cotoneaster-dammeri.jpg

The birds go mad for them I am going to plant more I have two cotoneasters in my garden and I get redwings in the garden its lovely..

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Hi BP it looks like a Cotoneaster dammeri I could be wrong
Google Image Result for http://www.vanbelle.com/images/plant%20guide/broadleaves/cotoneaster-dammeri.jpg

The birds go mad for them I am going to plant more I have two cotoneasters in my garden and I get redwings in the garden its lovely..

Thanks Kayleigh, the birds were indeed going mad for the berries. I saw quite a few Blackbirds, Songthrushes and Fieldfares within the short space of time that I was there.

[davidbr]

It's certainly not Cotoneaster dammeri; that's a low-growing species. You can't see the leaves very well in the photo, but it's probably Waterer's Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster x watereri.

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by davidbr

It's certainly not Cotoneaster dammeri; that's a low-growing species. You can't see the leaves very well in the photo, but it's probably Waterer's Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster x watereri.

Cheers David. The height of the tree was about 20 feet. The photo is full-frame so I can't get any more leaves in.

[Kayleigh]

Sorry, it looks like a broad leaf Cotoneaster that's all I know there is one in a garden close to where I live and I have one and those are not low growing so sounds like what David said.

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Sorry, it looks like a broad leaf Cotoneaster that's all I know there is one in a garden close to where I live and I have one and those are not low growing so sounds like what David said.

Cotoneasters are very difficult to identify, Kayleigh, even more so when you're talking about garden plants because quite a few of them will be sterile hybrids. The "tree-type" ones tend to be one of two species; Himalayan Tree Cotoneaster, C. frigidus, or Waterer's Cotoneaster, C. x watereri. Waterer's is a hybrid between C. frigidus and Willow-leaved Cotoneaster C. salicifolius, so it can be quite variable. Here's a couple of typical photos of plants I've found in the wild;


Himalayan Tree Cotoneaster (C. frigidus)


Waterer's Cotoneaster (C. x watereri) - but, like I said, these can vary considerably in height and habit.

This is Bearberry Cotoneaster, C. dammeri; it's a low-growing, groundcover shrub, still quite rare in the wild, but it's an attractive species so seems to be increasing.

[pobjoy7]

Also don't forget Cotoneaster bullatus which grows very tall and self seeds well. Excellent for coppicing and has long straight wands similar to willow.