Cotoneaster simonsii

A hardy upright shrub from Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim reaching 2 x 2 metres over 20 years or so. Splendid for hedging on any site but especially cold and windy ones, given its origins. Semi-evergreen and some of its glossy green leaves may turn glowing red before falling in Autumn, but the display of brilliant red berries will hold on right into winter so it's a great late season colour pop in a gloomy spot. This delicately-leaved Cotoneaster has the same vigour and thatch-like density typical of this family of tough customers, with ‘Simonsii’ being a proper uprighty one with a thick canopy that’s very happy to be clipped and shaped if that’s something you want to do to it. Good fun can be had with creative maintenance as they lend themselves well to the usual rolling curves and rounded forms very gracefully. Its other main quality is hedging and creating backdrops for shelter and shade, and to define boundaries, edges and zones which are vital in any garden design. It takes its time but certainly won't get out of hand as some bullish hedging trees will: a bonus. You can securely ignore it for ages and won’t suddenly find yourself having to pay a handsome prince with a big chopper half your kingdom in order to escape.