Cotoneaster integrifolius

Native from the Himalayas to southwestern China and northern Myanmar, this plant is a low, spreading evergreen shrub. Its crowded, leathery leaves are small and oval to spoon-shaped, with slightly rolled edges and pale, finely hairy undersides. Pink buds open into white, five-petaled flowers with reddish-purple anthers. The red, rounded to pear-shaped fruits contain two hard seed-bearing stones and can remain on the branches for much of the year. The plant occurs in montane and subalpine habitats and is cultivated as groundcover. It has escaped gardens and become naturalized in countries including New Zealand. Photographed in Florida.