Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

DONATE TODAY

  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Steering Committee
    • What We Do
  • Invasive Plants
    • No Grow! plants
    • Backyard Pests
    • Plant Control
  • Invasive Pests
    • Insects
    • Animal Pests
    • Diseases
  • Community Programs
    • Albizia Program
    • Little Fire Ant Community Support Program
    • Education
  • Blog

Cotoneaster

invasive Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster pannosus)

Cotoneaster

REPORT IF SEEN: Contact BIISC to schedule a free removal

Introduced to Hawai’i as an ornamental, Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster pannosus) is listed as one of Hawai‛i’s Most Invasive Horticultural Plants. Historical plantings around the Kilauea Military Reserve have spread to inaccessible locations within Hawai‛i Volcanoes National Park, the sheer cliff below the Volcano House is one example. Cotoneaster forms dense stands that shade out and outcompetes with native biodiversity. Despite these impacts, plants are still being grown on properties close to protected conservation areas, a risky move because the fruit is readily eaten and dispersed by birds. Its broad climate suitability, toleration of many soil types, and ability to self-fertilize are some of the characteristics that this species invasive.

Impacts:

  • Fast growth to reproductive age
  • Invades native dominated forests
  • Self-compatible/self-fertile
  • Outcompetes native biota
  • Resprouts after being cut
  • Fruit is attractive to birds
  • Poisonous to humans
  • Invades pastures
  • Threat to cooler climates in places like Volcano and Kulani

Description:

  • A multistemmed woody shrub with arching branches that can grow 10 feet tall
  • White flowers are five-petaled, topped with purple anthers, and are born in clusters of 6 to 20 flowers
  • Leaves are silver-green, oblong, leathery in texture, with matted white hair on the underside
  • Dull red fruit is egg or rounded and contains 1 to 2 viable seeds

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster pannosus)

invasive cotoneaster

Photos: Forest & Kim Starr

BIISC’s Control Efforts

Our team is always on the lookout for cotoneaster. Small seedlings are removed by hand while larger infestations require physical removal of the aboveground material followed by a cut-stump treatment.

Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

23 East Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 933-3340

  

biisc@hawaii.edu

Sign Up to Receive Updates

Sign Up!

PCSU logo

Copyright © 2023 Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) · Sitemap · Designed by Websites with Aloha · Log in