Cotoneaster bullatus, the hollyberry cotoneaster, is a species of shrub in the genus Cotoneaster within the rose family. Its natural range is in Western China (provinces of Hubei, Sichuan, Xizang, and Yunnan), where it is found in a range of woodland and shrub biotopes from 900 to 3200 m above sea level.
The plant was introduced into cultivation 1898, and is widely naturalised in Europe, New Zealand and possibly British Columbia in North America (although this is now considered to be the closely related C. rehderi, which was formerly treated as a variety of this species, C. bullatus var macrophylla).
Hollyberry cotoneaster is an arching deciduous shrub, which grows to heights of 3âÂÂ4 metres. Branches are terete with grey bark, and alternate leaves. Twigs are initially hairy, but lose the hairs to become glabrous at maturity.
The simple leaves have a short petiole (4âÂÂ6 mm), which is usually hairless, and an oblong-ovate blade, usually 35âÂÂ70 mm long and 20âÂÂ40 mm wide. The upper leaf surface is dark green, wrinkled and blistered (bullate, glabrous or finely hairy; the underside is grey-green, finely hairy, especially along the secondary veins. Leaves have lanceolate stipules, 3âÂÂ5 mm long, which fall soon after the leaves open.
Flowers are grouped in corymbose inflorescence about 30âÂÂ50 mm across, containing from 12 to 30 white flowers. The flowers themselves have five petals and five sepals, and are 7âÂÂ8 mm in diameter. They have from 20 to 22 stamens and four or five free styles. Flowering time in the Northern Hemisphere is from MayâÂÂJuly.
The globose fruits mature in August. They are 6âÂÂ8 mm in diameter, red and contain four or five pyrenes.