Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
A beautiful, reliable, fast growing alternative ground cover. The Little Dipper Cotoneaster is a low maintenance shrub that will help your landscape pop. Adding to its charm this plant produces white flowers in the spring and red berries in the summer. The Little Dipper is deer resistant and has a short growth habit ensuring it usability for ground cover.
The Little Dipper Cotoneaster is a deciduous plant, meaning its green foliage returns year after year. In the spring, petite white blooms sprout. Following in the summer red berries take their place. The height of the Little Dipper Cotoneaster reaches six-twelve inches and has a spread of three to four feet. This plant is perfect for ground cover to prevent erosion and weeds, as a border plant, in containers as a spiller plant, and it does well with mass planting.
Little Dipper Cotoneaster Care
Maintenance for the Little Dipper Cotoneaster is simple, it requires little care. Plant in full sun to part sun, ensuring it receives 4-6 hours of sun per day. This plant has average water needs and requires well drained soil. Plant away from foot traffic, as it cannot tolerate foot traffic of any kind. Pruning is not necessary. If trimming is desired, trim after bloom season.
Little Dipper Cotoneaster Spacing
Due to its massive spread and to ensure the health of your Little Dipper Cotoneaster and prevent crowding, spacing should be 4’-5’, center on center. Proper spacing for this plant is especially important when planting as a border plant and for use as a ground cover.
Interesting Fact(s) - These are actually pronounced "Cot-oh-KNEE-aster", not "cotton-easter."
Little Dipper® Cotoneaster Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 6-12 Inches
- Mature Spread
- 3-4 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Spreading
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Late Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Fall Interest, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Little Dipper® Cotoneaster
- Botanical Name
- Little Dipper Cotoneaster procumbens 'Gerald' USPP 22,760
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- Plant Type
- Deciduous
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!