The Berries Gallery:
Berries portrait of
Cotoneaster franchetii
Franchet's Cotoneaster
the berries in October (2001, I think),
shown on a cliff edge. There's a birdbath nearby
not visible from this angle, but there are
additional photos on the main Franchet's Cotoneaster Page which shows
this same specimen from the birdbath side,
& at other times of the year.
This second photo from the first day in
September (2003) shows the berries just before
they begin to ripen to red. Because cotoneaster
fruits are actually "pomes" (like apples)
instead of true berries, it is not too suprising
that these small unripened pomes look
so much like miniature green apples.
The green berries ripen toward orange-red throughout
September (2003), & are about half-ripe in this photo.
Now it's October (2003); the berries can get redder still.
The Franchett shrubs present a veritable sea of bright berries
in November (2003). With winter near, a percentage of the leaves
will soon begin to turn colorful shades of red & yellow,
although half or a third of the leaves never do turn,
as these shrubs are semi-evergreen,
in addition to retaining the berries for much of the winter.
By January, berries will be softening & blackening;
they will shrivel & fall to the ground.
The fallen berries very easily produce seedlings;
indeed, baby Franchetts have to be pulled like weeds, by the handsful.
Here's another November portrait (2005).
With winter near, a percentage of the leaves
will soon begin to turn colorful shades of red & yellow,
although half or a third of the leaves never do turn,
as these shrubs are semi-evergreen,
in addition to retaining the berries for much of the winter
(see the Franchet Cotoneaster autumn leaves page for further
portraits). By January, berries will be softening & blackening;
they will shrivel & fall to the ground.
The fallen berries very easily produce seedlings;
indeed, baby Franchetts have to be pulled like weeds, by the handsful.
Continue to the Next Page of the Berries Gallery.