Pyracantha
( pye - ruh - KAN - thuh )
At-A-Glance Information
Commonly called Firethorn, this genus of evergreen shrubs needs full sun and moderate water to perform and fruit well. They are native to Southeast Europe over to Southeast Asia and their bright red berries attract birds. These are most often seen as hedges, screens, and espaliers, but also come in groundcover and sprawling forms. Leaves are glossy and green, and small flowers bloom in springtime. Almost all species have sharp thorns. Berries stay on the plant for a long season - usually summer through early winter. Berries that are on the plant for long periods of time will ferment, causing the birds to eat them at that time to become drunk.
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Pyracantha Species and Varietals
The genus Pyracantha includes seven species and is a member of the plant family Rosaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek words for fire (pyr) and thorn (akanthos), and it was first described and defined by botanist Max Joseph Roemer.. Firethorn growing zones vary depending on the species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Pyracantha angustifolia (Narrowleaf Firethorn, Slender Firethorn, Woolly Firethorn) This species is best in zones 3-24 and is native to China. Reaches 8-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide and has bright orange-red berries that follow white blooms. Foliage is green, and the stems and branches have sharp spines. These are popular hedges for home security. |
Pyracantha coccinea (Scarlet Firethorn, Red Firethorn)
This species is best in zones 3-24 and is native to the eastern Mediterranean regions. It has a rounded growth habit, reaching 8-10 feet tall wide. Fruit is red-orange. Varieties are more popular than the species; they are listed below.
This species is best in zones 3-24 and is native to the eastern Mediterranean regions. It has a rounded growth habit, reaching 8-10 feet tall wide. Fruit is red-orange. Varieties are more popular than the species; they are listed below.
'Kasan'
8-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide, with long-lasting bright orange-red fruit. |
'Lowboy'
2-3 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Orange berries. |
'Red Cushion'
3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, with reddish-orange berries. |
'Rutgers'
3 feet tall and 5 feet wide, with orange berries and good resistance to disease. |
Pyracantha crenatoserrata (Pyracantha fortuneana, Pyracantha yunnanensis) (Chinese Firethorn, Yunnan Firethorn) This species is native to China and grows well in zones 4-24 and reaches 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Great espalier subject; limbs are malleable. Pale orange to coral-colored berries last through the winter months. Variety 'Graberi' reaches 10-12 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide and has big clusters of dark red fruits. |
Pyracantha crenulata (Nepalese Firethorn, Nepal Firethorn, Himalayan Firethorn) These shrubs are native to an area that spans from Pakistan to China. They are deciduous, bushy, branching, and very thorny shrubs. Bark is dark brown and leaves are green. Flowers are white and bloom from April through May. Individual plants can reach up to between 7 and 10 feet tall at maturity. |
Pyracantha Hybrids
These plants have uncertain heritages, and includes many great varieties of Firethorn.
These plants have uncertain heritages, and includes many great varieties of Firethorn.
'Mohave'
This variety grows well in zones 4-24 and reaches 12 feet tall and wide, with large orange-red berries that last for a long season. |
'Red Elf'
Grows in zones 4-9 and 12-24. It is a low-grower that reaches 2 feet tall and just as wide. Berries are bright red. Good for containers. |
'Silver Lining'
This variety reaches 3 feet tall and wide, growing best in zones 4-9 and 12-24. Leaves are green with white edges. Winter brings purple and pink hues to foliage. |
'Teton'
Grows well in zones 2b-24 and has an upright habit to 12 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. Berries are yellow-orange. |
Pyracantha koldzumii (Formosa Firethorn, Taiwan Firethorn)
This species grows well in zones 4-24 and is native to Taiwan. It is a introduced species in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. These plants have a loose growing habit, reaching 8-12 feet tall and wide. Varieties listed below are more commonly grown than the species.
This species grows well in zones 4-24 and is native to Taiwan. It is a introduced species in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. These plants have a loose growing habit, reaching 8-12 feet tall and wide. Varieties listed below are more commonly grown than the species.
Caring for and pruning Pyracantha shrubs
Grow Pyracantha shrubs in full sun to partial shade; these shrubs are happiest when they receive 6 or more hours of sun per day, and will leaf and produce profuse berries at this exposure. They prefer soil to be well-draining and rich with organic matter with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5. Water regularly, especially during the first year as the root system is getting established. Pyracantha is relatively drought-tolerant at maturity, but does benefit from deep waterings during dry periods of the year.
If used as a groundcover or shrub, Firethorn is happier if allowed to grow naturally, and does not need much in the way of pruning. Prune simply to check wayward branches; hard prunings will reduce fruit. For wide-spreading groundcovers, plant 4-5 feet apart. The best time to prune Pyracantha shrubs is in late wintertime or early springtime before new growth emerges for the year. It is a good idea to wear gloves when pruning your Pyracantha shrubs, as many species have thorns.
If used as a groundcover or shrub, Firethorn is happier if allowed to grow naturally, and does not need much in the way of pruning. Prune simply to check wayward branches; hard prunings will reduce fruit. For wide-spreading groundcovers, plant 4-5 feet apart. The best time to prune Pyracantha shrubs is in late wintertime or early springtime before new growth emerges for the year. It is a good idea to wear gloves when pruning your Pyracantha shrubs, as many species have thorns.
Propagation
Pyracantha shrubs can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Pyracantha by Cutting
Propagating Pyracantha by Seed
Propagating Pyracantha by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with sand. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In early fall, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 5-6 inch semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Pyracantha by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, an abrasive surface or knife, a sealable bag or container, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seeds are contained inside of the fruits on the shrub, often red or orange, and need to be removed before planting. Using an abrasive surface or a knife, cut the fruit and remove the seed from the inside. Rinse the seeds and set them aside to dry.
- Pyracantha seeds need a cold-stratification treatment to germinate. Place your seeds in a sealable bag or other container with moistened peat moss, and place the container in the refrigerator for at least three months. After the cold stratification period has passed, remove your seeds and set them out to dry.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots.. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, for about a year. After 12 months, the propagated shrub will be strong enough to be planted out in the garden.
Problems and Pests
Firethorn shrubs are susceptible to the following issues:
- Fireblight
- Scale
- Woolly Aphids
- Red Spider Mites
- Apple Scab
- Pyracantha Scab
Gallery
Videos
How to care for Pyracantha plants.
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An informational video on Pyracantha shrubs.
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All about Firethorn shrubs.
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An overview of Pyracantha shrubs.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 542 - 543, Pyracantha (Firethorn)
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