Leijpark013

@leijpark013 · 15 Jan 2022

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Leijpark 013 'dwarf medlar

#leijpark013   #dwarfmedlar

Published by Thierry P. Dinjens · 12 January at 5:34 PM ·
A shrub that we all know because it is often planted in borders by municipalities in the country and also many of us may have been in the garden as a ground cover, is the Cotoneaster. The bush (sometimes tree) immediately stands out for its small red berries, which are a huge source of nutrition for winter birds. A stage earlier, if she still carries plenty of small white flowers, it really buzzes with bees and gliders and butterflies don't find this rich source of nectar to be snagged.
'Cotoneaster' is actually a weird word. It is derived from the Latin 'cotoneum' which means medlar. The part 'aster' is a corruption of the term 'ad instar' which means 'whole as'. So basically Cotoneaster literally means: 'Whole like the medlar' because the Cotoneaster bears so much resemblance to the medlar. However, it is much smaller and therefore received the Dutch name 'dwarf medlar'.
The advantage of the Cotoneaster is its ability to serve as a ground cover; it remains green in every season and attracts numerous insects to the garden or in this case: the Leijpark. You won't see the disadvantage until you want to get rid of it: a very impossible thing. Excavation is a hellish job, burning down makes little sense because the plant keeps forming foothills and grazing is not a good idea, after all, the plant is poisonous. The only thing that this plant, which remains upright in severe frosts, cannot cope with is waterlogging. So if you want to get rid of it, submerged the area where the Cotoneaster grows. First then the roots give up the fight (eventually).
In the Leij Park, however, the plant does not have to be fought at all. By the way, pruned regularly, because it grows strongly and can use some maintenance. And know one thing, the Cotoneaster is itself a fighter and good of weeds. We don't like to use the term “weeds”, but rather talk about unwanted plants. Which plants are undesirable is different for every garden lover. Where Cotoneaster grows, little sunlight penetrates to the (park) soil anymore and no herb gets a foothold.
Those who are thinking about taking a Cotoneaster have plenty of choice. An original area that extends across Europe, North Africa and the Himalayan Mountains yields no less than ninety species of this robust plant. From ground cover to tree from bush to dwarf shrub. Something for everyone.
Despite the fact that this plant does not have edible fruits like the 'real' medlar, it does belong to the same family: the large family of roses, which also includes apples, plums and cherries. These fruits are really only suitable for birds, but that is not a disaster either. There are still plenty of edible plants and shrubs to be found in the Leijpark. And: the eye wants something too; leave that to the Cotoneaster.!