Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Cotoneaster coriaceus Franch.

Synonyms

Cotoneaster lacteus W.W. Sm.

Family

Malaceae (New South Wales)
Rosaceae (Queensland, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia)

Common Names

cotoneaster, late cotoneaster, milkflower cotoneaster, Parney cotoneaster, Parney's cotoneaster

Origin

Native to China.

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised in some of the cooler regions of south-eastern and eastern Australia (i.e. in the sub-coastal districts of south-eastern Queensland, on the tablelands of northern New South Wales, in the ACT, and in south-eastern South Australia). Possibly also naturalised in Tasmania.

Naturalised overseas in western USA (i.e. Washington, Oregon and California).

Notes

This species is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales and the ACT, and as a potential environmental weed in Tasmania and Victoria. Like other cotoneasters (i.e. Cotoneaster spp.), it forms thickets under trees and displaces local native plant species.

Milk-flower cotoneaster (Cotoneaster coriaceus) is easily confused with large-leaved cotoneaster (Cotoneaster glaucophyllus), hence its distribution and abundance in Australia may be underestimated.