Plant Swap Scheme

WildNet - Tom Marshall

Do you have cotoneaster planted in your garden?

Help reduce the invasive non-native cotoneaster seed source by replacing it with a native alternative.

Thank you to everyone who signed up to our plant swap scheme!

All vouchers have now been claimed!

Follow the resources on this page for useful tips removing your garden cotoneaster

Cotoneaster Mynydd Marian Limestone grassland — Cotoneaster smothering limestone grassland ©Craig Wade

What is the Plant Swap Scheme?

As part of the Limestone Grassland Restoration Project, the scheme aims to reduce the spread of invasive non-native cotoneaster onto our extraordinary limestone grasslands.

These grasslands are some of the most plant and insect-rich habitats in the UK and can have over 40 plant species per square metre. Unfortunately, our limestone grasslands are at risk and now being smothered by cotoneaster- having a devastating effect on wildlife.

Cotoneaster berries are easily dispersed by birds causing the invasive to progressively spread. Acting as a seed source, garden cotoneaster is escalating this issue.

How can you help?

Most of our gardens contain plants that are not native to the UK - they originally came from another part of the world. While non-native plants can help us create beautiful ornamental displays to enjoy, if they escape into the wild some can become invasive.

Reduce the spread of cotoneaster into the wild, by replacing your garden cotoneaster with a wildlife friendly alternative ⇒ Gardening without harmful invasive plants.
Please only remove cotoneaster from your own garden! Report cotoneaster sightings on public land using the free INNS Mapper app

Find our helpful tips of how to responsibly dispose of your unwanted cotoneaster below:

1. Place sheeting around the base of your unwanted cotoneaster - this will help catch any berries that may fall

2. Uproot or cut the cotoneaster using lopper or secateurs

3. Treat the exposed stumps with an appropriate herbicide

4. Take all material to a disposal centre that deals with non native invasive species, or safely and completely burn the material (details of permitted disposal sites: Natural Resources Wales)

Click on your county for council household waste recycling centre details (please check with your local facility if they accept cotoneaster waste before disposal)

Isle of Anglesey / Conwy / Denbighshire / Flintshire / Gwynedd / Wrexham

Your support will help to protect our threatened species such as the hoary rock rose and the silver studded blue butterfly.

Identify the most dominant and invasive species of cotoneaster

Now considered in the top ten species having a negative impact on our protected sites in North Wales. Cotoneaster species are listed on the Schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 England and Wales. Although still readily available to buy, it can be planted and contained in private gardens. However it is an offence to plant or otherwise cause these species to grow in the wild. GBNNSS

Cotoneaster ID link: ID_Cotoneaster_sp _(Cotoneaster) (nonnativespecies.org)

Entire leaved cotoneaster (C. integrifolius)

Entire leaved Cotoneaster ©Illustrations by Lizzie Harper at www.lizzieharper.co.uk copyright 2023 — ©Illustrations by Lizzie Harper at www.lizzieharper.co.uk copyright 2023 Entire leaved Cotoneaster (C. integrifolius)

Evergreen low growing shrub
Leaves: small elliptical, dark green and hairs underside
Flowers: white, purple anthers
Berries: late summer crimson colour, holds throughout winter

Himalayan cotoneaster (C. simonsii)

©Illustrations by Lizzie Harper copyright 2023 Himalayan cotoneaster — ©Illustrations by Lizzie Harper at www.lizzieharper.co.uk copyright 2023 Himalayan cotoneaster (C. simonsii)

Large hardy upright evergreen shrub
Leaves: small none serrated, alternate along stem, glossy hairless upper and slight hairs on lower surface
Flowers: pale pink, red patch centre of petal
Berries: slightly larger, orange-red in clusters

Hollyberry cotoneaster (C. bullatus)

Hollyberry cotoneaster Illustrations by Lizzie Harper at www.lizzieharper.co.uk copyright 2023 — ©Illustrations by Lizzie Harper at www.lizzieharper.co.uk copyright 2023 Hollyberry cotoneaster (C. bullatus)

Much larger deciduous shrub up to 4 metres
Leaves: matt green, oval and pointed, indented veins growing alternate on stem
Flowers: pink, 5 petal, white anthers
Berries: bright red, large slight square-shaped

Small leaved cotoneaster (C. microphyllus)

©Illustrations by Lizzie Harper at www.lizzieharper.co.uk copyright 2023 Small leaved cotoneaster (C. microphyllus)

Evergreen low-lying shrub
Leaves: glossy green top, grey/white underside, small (1cm length), elliptic
Flowers: solitary white, 5 petals, dark violet anthers
Berries: coral red and globular

Wall cotoneaster (C. horizontalis)

Deciduous low growing shrub: herringbone-shaped branches, stems woody dark brown, hard and knotty
Leaves: small dark green upper, pointed and shiny on both sides, red in autumn
Flowers: pink, 5 petal with white anthers
Berries: orange-red

Here’s a handy guide to "Gardening without harmful invasive plants" including cotoneaster alternative shrubs (page 30) to keep your garden buzzing.

The GB Non-Native Species Secretariat has created useful "Tips for gardeners to Be Plant Wise" a campaign to help choose what to grow, how to stop the spread of invasive plants and composting with care after removal.