Cranberry cotoneaster winter berries

It was not the first time it happened to me that I found a cool looking plant, and I thought it was not the most common one. I shot it from every angle because, you know... it's unusual; probably nobody knows it (🙄) and it will be a great addition to the pile of other plant photos.

Then I googled it, found the name, and saw more photos...
and like with a magic wand, I started to see it everywhere! Does that happen to you too?
The things we know are easier to spot, I guess :p

Cranberry cotoneaster

_{(Cotoneaster apiculatus)}

The one I shot is a small plant, and I think it struggles a bit in the spot it is planted in. But every year, it has lots of tiny, vivid red berries to show. In spring, it blooms with tiny white flowers, which I think I shot at some point too but now can't find.





Besides berries, the plant has a very interesting shape. The leaves are small, round, and glossy. The dark green and very dark brown stems only make the berries (and flowers) pop.

It is a low-growing plant and tends to stay flat, close to the ground. It would make a nice bonsai if someone was into it :)

Since I did not know the plant, I never heard of anyone saying that it was edible. Google tells me it's not poisonous, but not really nice either. Birds like it, though, so it's another good plant to have in a garden and have something for them to eat in the winter.

Bonus shot:
A little dark furry shadow was watching me :)

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_{Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.}