Family: Rosaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Cotoneaster pannosus, or silverleaf cotoneaster, is a shrub native to south-central China and widely planted as an ornamental. It grows several meters tall with arching branches, gray-green leaves with silvery undersides, clusters of small white or pink flowers, and red-orange berry-like fruits that attract birds. It is primarily grown for its decorative foliage and fruit display.

Risks, Threats & Management
This species is naturalized on Kaua‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island and can escape cultivation, spreading via bird-dispersed seeds. Dense stands can outcompete native plants, reduce biodiversity, and alter ecosystem structure. Its prolific fruiting, resprouting ability, and tolerance of varied conditions make it a potential threat to tropical island ecosystems. For these reasons, planting Cotoneaster pannosus is not recommended; choose a low-risk or native alternative instead.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Able to grow in mid-to high elevation subtropical and tropical islands
  
• Naturalized on Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, Hawaiian Islands and elsewhere
  
• An environmental weed (esp. in Australia, California, and Hawaii)
  
• Other Cotoneaster species have become invasive
  
• Fruit reported to be toxic to humans
  
• May increase fire risk in fire prone habitats
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Forms dense stands that exclude and shade other vegetation
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Apomictic
  
• Reaches maturity in 2 years
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds, pigs, dumped garden waste and intentionally by people
  
• Prolific seed production (densities unknown)
  
• Able to resprout after cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Ornamental uses
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively (although resprouts and suckers if cut)
  
• Herbicides provide effective control