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Velvet cotoneaster (Cotoneaster pannosus)

Velvet cotoneaster is an introduced ornamental shrub that is occasionally naturalised in Australia. Its berries can spread seeds into bushland, where plants may establish and compete with native vegetation.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: China.

Established in: QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, WA.

Other names: Silverleaf cotoneaster, Cotoneaster, Silver cotoneaster, Silver-leaved cotoneaster.

Best time to act: Look for plants when the red fruit makes them easy to spot, and control them before fruit is dispersed.

Identification

  • An evergreen shrub, usually 1–3 m high, with arching branches.
  • Leaves are elliptic, usually 20–25 mm long and 8–15 mm wide, with a dull, hairless upper surface and a white-felted lower surface.
  • White flowers, about 8 mm across, grow in hairy clusters of 6–20.
  • The red fruit is usually ovoid to nearly round, about 6–7 mm across, and may age to crimson; each fruit has two seeds.
  • Look-alike: Other cotoneaster species can look similar; the dense white felt on the underside of the leaves is a useful feature for recognising velvet cotoneaster.

Where it grows

In Australia it is commonly cultivated and occasionally naturalised, including in disturbed areas and near bushland.

Why it matters

  • Established plants can form dense growth that competes with native plants for space and light.
  • It can establish beyond gardens and spread into natural vegetation, where it may hinder native plant regeneration.
  • Fruit-eating birds can carry its seeds into bushland.

How it spreads

  • Birds eat the fruit and disperse the seeds.
  • Plants can also escape from cultivation, including through discarded garden material containing fruit or seeds.

Control options

  • Hand-pull small seedlings and plants when the soil is moist, removing the roots where practical.
  • For larger shrubs, use an appropriate physical method such as cutting and follow with a herbicide registered for the intended use, strictly following the product label and local guidance.
  • Collect fruit and plant material carefully so seeds are not spread; dispose of them through an approved method rather than dumping garden waste.
  • Revisit treated areas to remove seedlings and regrowth, and check with the relevant state biosecurity agency or local council about local advice and reporting.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil, seeds and plant fragments from boots, tools, vehicles and machinery before leaving an infested site.
  • Do not move fruit-bearing branches or contaminated soil to clean areas; dispose of plant waste appropriately.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Not a priority weed. Not a state or regional priority weed in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Permitted, not declared. Listed as a permitted organism in WA, so it can be brought in, but it is not a declared pest.
  • Tasmania: Not declared. Not a declared weed in Tasmania. Other laws may still apply.
  • Northern Territory: Not declared. Not on the NT A to Z weed list, and Weeds Australia does not list it as declared in the NT. Check the NT declared weeds list before moving or planting it.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Declared pest, prohibited. It is a declared pest throughout the ACT. Dealing with it, such as selling, moving or keeping it, is prohibited.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources