Description
Pyracantha – Firethorn –
There are about 9 species of spiny evergreen, spreading to erect shrubs, occasionally trees in this genus. They occur in scrub and woodland margins from Southern Europe to Southwestern Asia, the Himalayas, China and Taiwan. They are grown for their foliage, their flowers, and, in particular, their fruits. They produce variably shaped, glossy green, alternate, leaves and often have toothed edges. The spring borne, 5 petaled white flowers are hawthorn like and are held in compound corymbs, the showy, spherical edible berries, follow in autumn and winter are yellow, orange, or bright red and attract birds and are carried on previous years growth. Grow Firethorns as free standing shrubs in a shrub border, or against a wall, or for hedging. The seeds may cause mild stomach upset if ingested.
Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Where marginally hardy, shelter from cold, drying winds. Trim hedges in early to mid summer. In spring remove old fruit clusters to make way for new growth.
Prone to spider mites, lacebug, caterpillars, scale insects, aphids, fireblight, dieback, scab, and wilt.
P. koidzumii – Formosa Firethorn – This erect shrub from Taiwan grows 10-15′ feet tall and 12′ feet wide. From reddish, downy, young stems that become smooth and purplish with age carries inversely lance shaped, glossy, dark green leaves, with paler undersides, to 2 ½” long. In early summer it bears small white held in corymbs of up to 15, followed by loose clusters of orange-red berries, 1/4″ across. Does not respond well to pruning.
Zones 7-9
