Cotoneaster 'Queen of Carpets'

Cotoneaster 'Queen of Carpets' is exactly what it sounds like: a dense, evergreen carpet that quickly covers ground and keeps it looking neat all year. In summer it carries small white flowers, followed by berries that add interest and help wildlife, making it a practical choice as well as a pretty one. Cotoneaster dammeri 'Queen of Carpets' spreads rather than grows tall, so it’s ideal for ground cover in beds and borders, on banks, or under taller shrubs where you want weed suppression. It’s very compact and very hardy, and it gives a clean, finished look with minimal maintenance. It also looks good spilling over a low wall or edging a path, especially when mixed with bulbs popping through in spring. Plant in sun or semi shade in almost any soil—chalk, clay, loam or sand—and it will tolerate acidic, neutral or alkaline conditions. It’s tough enough for exposed spots, but equally happy in more sheltered corners. Trim back any wandering shoots after flowering if you want to keep a sharper outline.