Shrub identity and germination advice

 This heavily berried shrub/small tree is growing in a neighbour's
garden, and looks most attractive. It's about 12 ft tall and as much
across, generally an open rounded shape. Can anyone identify it from
the sprig in the photo (the 2p coin gives the scale).
http://i40.tinypic.com/2ednpdt.jpg

My own guess is it's a photinia of some sort. How would I best
propagate it from the seeds/berries? Do I need to de-flesh them in
some way to extract the actual seeds before planting, or would
cuttings be a better way?

--
 
Chris

Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales

 
I'd say it's a Cotoneaster, there are many that make small trees and
look great.
They will propagate from cuttings or  seed.

 
I'd go for Cotoneaster. As it has fairly larger leaves (and is a fairly
big plant), I'd suggest Cotoneaster x watereri (C. salicifolius x
frigidus), which is a variable hybrid, or Cotoneaster 'Cornubia', which
is one of the more commonly sold Cotoneasters. The RHS Plant Finder
lists 'Cornubia' under C. frigidus, but it seems to be disputed whether
it is C. x watereri or C. frigidus.

I've tried propagating Cotoneasters from cuttings, without success. My
failures were with softwood cuttings.

However, if it is the plant I suggest it may well not come true from
seed.

I haven't attempted propagation by seed. However, Cotoneasters are
normally bird sown. Hence I would suggest defleshing the fruits, and
stratifying the seeds. That is sow them now, so that they are exposed to
the winter frosts - and hopefully they germinate in the spring.

[Many other Cotoneasters are apomictic, and come true from seed.]
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

 On 13/12/2011 11:03, Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

I go along with most of that, except that I would add C. lacteus as
another option.

I suspect the OP doesn't own the tree, otherwise I would suggest
layering, which is usually successful with Cotoneasters. Another
possibility would be air-layering but, again, the OP would need to own
the tree ... unless he could approach the owners.

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay

 
With the tree being 15ft tall I doubt layering would be possible.
I'd leave  some berries soaking in a jam jar with ater to ferment,
then sow b#the seeds making sure that mice can't get at them