Firethorn

Pyracantha
A genus of 9 species of rapid growing evergreen shrubs and small trees that are part of the large Rose family. They are very useful as free standing shrubs as well as for espaliers and hedging.
Most have toothed, deep green evergreen leaves and spiny stems. The flowers on all are white and are followed by persistant yellow to orange or red berries.
Honey Bees love the flowers and birds ( especially Cedar Waxwings love the berries )
Most prefer cool moist climates and full sun on fertile, well drained soil. They are best installed from containerized nursery stock and do not like to be moved once established.
Pruning is not required but hedges may be pruned in early or mid summer to control size.
Propagation is from seed ( sown in cold frame during mid-autumn ) or 4 inch cuttings of fresh growth taken during summer for the cultivars. Pyracantha roots easily from softwood, semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings under mist, 1000 to 5000 ppm IBA solution in 4 to 6 weeks. The seed should be soaked in water for 24 hours then cold stratified for 3 months unless immediately sown outdoors. The seeds should be planted at 0.1 inches deep. Some species may be prone to scab, fireblight and wilt fungus.

* photos taken on May 8 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo of unknown internet source


* photos taken on Nov 4 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on Sep 30 2014 in Howard Co., MD

Pyracantha angustifolia ( Narrowleaf Firethorn )
Also called Gibb's Firethorn. A spiny, large bushy horizontally branched shrub native to southwest China. Some records include: 10 years - 20 x 20 feet; largest on record - 33 x 33 feet. Some individual plants are nearly spineless.
The leaves, up to 3.5 x 1 inch are glossy deep green above and furry gray beneath.
The small white flowers are borne in corymbs of up to 30 in early summer.
They are followed by densely clustered berries that are yellow to deep orange and persist until March.
Hardy zones 5 to 10

* photo taken on Oct 7 2019 in Elkridge, MD

Pyracantha atlantoides ( Chinese Firethorn )
A large, vigorous, upright, vase shaped shrub with long spined arching branches that is native to south and western China. Some records include: largest on record - 23 x 15 feet. Makes an excellent hedge or screen.
The broadly-oval leaves, up to 4 inches in length, are glossy deep green.
The small white flowers are borne in corymbs of up to 20 during summer.
They are followed by clusters of scarlet berries up to 0.5 inches across during autumn often lasting through winter.
Hardy zones 5 to 10 in sun to partial shade, preferring a site sheltered from sweeping winter winds.

'Aurea'
Bright yellow berries

Pyracantha coccinea ( European Firethorn )
A vigorous, dense, very large shrub native from southern Europe and Turkey to the Caucasus. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 3 feet; 20 years - 20 x 20 feet; largest on record - 33 x 33 feet with a trunk diameter of 15 inches.
The toothed ovate leaves are up to 2.5 x 1 inches in size. The foliage is finely downy at first, later turning glossy deep green.
The small white flowers, up to 0.3 inches wide, are borne in corymbs during late spring.
They are followed by dense clusters of abundant showy scarlet-red berries ( up to 0.25 inches wide ) borne on downy stalks.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( Slovakian seed stock being the hardiest, down to -20 F ).

* photos of unknown internet source


* photos taken on Sep 3 2013 in Ellicott City, MD

* european firethorn at Porto, Portugal

'Kasan'
Vigoroous and dense with large orange-red berries, up to 0.4 x 0.3 inches in size.
Hardy to -30 F, it has good disease resistance.

'Lalandei'
Strong growing and upright, reaching up to 20 feet or more.
The leaves, up to 1.6 inches long, are deep green. Bears abundant, glossy bright orange-scarlet berries, up to 0.4 x 0.3 inches in size, that persist up to 5 months.
Hardy to -20 F ( hardier on protected sites having reached a size of 3 x 6.5 feet at zone 4b Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa, Canada though any growth above that height freezes off during severe winters ).

'Northern Beauty'
A slow growing, semi-evergreen shrub, reaching up to 8 x 6 feet.
The white flowers are followed by showy orange berries during autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun.

* photos taken on Sep 23 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 4 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 5 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 18 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 7 2023 @ Howard Community College, Columbia, MD

'Rutgers'
A fast growing, low, spreading form, reaching up to 3 x 10.5 feet in 10 years, eventually reaching a maximum size of 5 x 12 feet. It originated at Princeton Nurseries in Princeton, New Jersey in 1980.
The narrowly-oval leaves are up to 2.5 inches in length. The foliage is glossy deep green.
The abundant, orange berries, up to 0.4 inches wide, persist well into winter.
Hardy zones 5 +. It is highly resistant to fireblight and scab.

'Walker's Pride'
A medium-sized shrug, reaching just 8 x 5 feet in 7 years, eventually slightly larger; originating in Nebraska.
The deciduous, bright green foliage turns to deep red during autumn.
The abundant, bright orange berries persist well into winter.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( 4b on protected sites ).

'Wyatti'
A fast growing but compact, cold hardy ( to -20 F ) form with intense orangish-red berries. It originated in Dayton, Ohio in 1945 and may actually be P. coccinea ‘Wyatt’.

Pyracantha crenulata ( Himalayan Firethorn )
A rapid growing spiny vase shaped shrub to small tree reaching up to 20 x 12 feet that is native to the southern slope of the Himalayan Mountains in Asia.
The oval leaves with finely notched margins, reach up to 3 x 0.7 inches in size and are glossy deep green.
The small white flowers are borne in corymbs of up to 30.
They are followed by clusters of dark red berries.
Hardy zone 7 to 10

Pyracantha fortuneana ( Yunnan Firethorn )
Also called Pyracantha crenatoserrata. It is a fast growing, large shrub native to central and western China. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 3 feet; largest on record - 18 x 12 feet.
The shallow toothed, round tipped, oval leaves up to 3 x 1 inches in size, are glossy deep green.
The white flowers borne during late spring.
They are followed by abundant small berries that are orange before finally ripening to red and persisting into the following spring.
Hardy zone 6 to 10. Drought tolerant and also very heat tolerant.

'Graberi'
Very fast growing and upright, large, evergreen shrub, reported to grow to 9 x 8 feet in 5 years at Xeraplants Nursery, it can eventually reach up to 18 x 12 feet.
The oblong foliage is glossy bright green, later turning to deep green.
The white flowers appear in flattened clusters during early summer. They are followd by abundant, very large, intense red fruits.
Hardy to 5 F.

Pyracantha koidzumii ( Taiwan Firethorn )
A rapid growing, densely branched shrub reaching a maximum size of 20 x 20 feet that is native to Taiwan.
The oblanceolate leaves, up to 3 inches in length are glossy deep green above, lighter beneath.
The small white flowers are borne in corymbs containing up to 15 during late spring.
They are followed by loose clusters of orange-scarlet berries ( each up to 0.25 inches wide ) that persist into winter.
The shoots are reddish and downy when young, later becoming purplish and smooth.
Hardy zone 7 to 10, it thrives in the Deep South where Pyracantha coccinea and its cultivars do not. In very hot climates it should not be planted where there is reflected heat such as next to parking lots or along south or west facing walls. It is very drought tolerant.

'Pueblo'
Compact and dense, reaching up to 7 x 14 feet in 15 years. It is actually a hybrid off P. koidzumii ‘Belli’ and P. coccinea var. pauciflora that was released by the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC in 1987.
The elliptical leaves are up to 3 x 1 inches in size . The deep green foliage is evergreen north to zone 7a.
The creamy-white flowers, up to 0.5 inches wide, are borne in dense clusters up to 1.8 inches wide.
They are followed by very persistant ( lasting into early winter ), orangish-red fruits, up to 0.4 x 0.5 inches wide, that are borne in clusters, up to 2.3 inches wide.
The older branches are deep brownish-gray. The stems bear spines up to 0.7 inches long.
It is completely scab and blight resistant.

'Santa Cruz'
A fast growing, semi-prostrate shrub reaching up to 3.3 x 8 feet in 10 years, eventually up to 5 x 10 feet. It is an excellent choices for covering embankments. The foliage is lush deep green.
It bears very abundant, large red berries.
Itis resistant to scab.

'Silver Lining'
Fast growing but compact, reaching up to 3.2 x 3.2 feet in 3 years, eventually to 7 x 7 feet, bearing foliage that is boldly margined silvery-white, later deepening to green. The foliage turns bronze and rosy-red during winter. The foliage is very heat tolerant and rarely scorches. The oblanceolate leaves are up to 1.6 x 0.6 inches in size.
The white flowers are borne in clusters, up to 0.5 inches wide, lasting up to 2 weeks during late spring.
They are followed by intense orange-red fruits.
The stems are less thorny than most Firethorn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9. It is highly resistant to fireblight and scab.

* photo taken on June 1 2013 in Clarksville, MD

* photo taken on Oct 1 2016 in Annapolis, MD

* patent photo

Pyracantha rogersiana ( Roger's Pyracantha )
A very rapid growing wide dense spreading to erect shrub native to China that can reach a maximum size of 17 x 17 feet. Makes an excellent hedge.
The oblong leaves, up to 1.5 x 0.5 inches are glossy deep green.
In late spring, up to 15 small white flowers are borne in corymbs that occur on mostly 2 year old wood.
They are followed by very clusters of yellow to orange berries, up to 0.4 inches wide.
Hardy zones 7 to 10

'Flava'
Similar except for yellow berries

PYRACANTHA HYBRIDS

'Apache'
A compact, semi-dwarf, evergreen ( decidous north of zone 7b ) shrub, reaching up to 6 x 8 feet. Some records include: 5 years - 6 x 3 feet. It is a hybrid that incudes P. koidzumii ‘Victory’ and P.fortuneana ‘Orange Glow’. It was introduced in 1987 by the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC.
The foliage is glossy deep green above, yellowish-green beneath. The leaves are up to 2 x 0.7 inches in size.
The creamy-white flowers are up to 0.5 inches wide. They are followed by glossy scarlet-red berries, up to 0.3 x 0.3 inches in size, that are borne in dense clusters, up to 2.3 inches wide. They persist well into winter.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade. It is highly resistant to scab and fireblight.

* photos taken on Mar 29 2024 in Laurel, MD

'Fiery Cascade'
An upright shrub reaching up to 4 x 6 feet in 10 years and a maximum size of 11 x 10 feet. This hybrid originated in 1978 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
The small foliage is glossy deep green.
The abundant berries ripen to orange during late summer than turn to orange-red to bright red during mid to late autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9, it has excellent scab and fire blight resistance.

'Golden Charmer'
A vigorous, dense, long branched arching shrub reaches 16 x 10 feet ( though potentially up to 33 x 33 feet with great age if trained as a tree ). It originated as a hybrid between Pyracantha coccinea and P. rogersiana, during the 1950s
The finely-toothed narrowly oval leaves, up to 2 inches in length. The foliage glossy bright green.
The white flowers appear during early summer.
They are followed by abundant large ( up to 0.4 x 0.4 inches ), rounded, bright orange berries that persist into early winter.
Hardy zone 5 to 9 in sun to partial shade. It is both scab and fireblight resistant.

'Golden Dome'
Arching branches form a spiny dome shaped shrub up to 3.3 x 6.5 feet in 10 years, eventually to 7 x 10 feet ( largest on record - 10 x 10 feet ). It is an older cultivar of unknown parentage that was selected at Hillier Garden in England.
The narrowly oval foliage is glossy deep green.
The very abundant, small, white flowers often completely cover the foliage during early summer. They are followed by abundant, small, deep golden-yellow fruits that persist well into winter.
Hardy zone 5 to 9 in sun to partial shade.

'Gold Rush'
A fast growing, upright, large shrub, reaching up to 11 feet in 4 years, eventually 16 x 10 feet. It is a hybrid between Pyracantha angustifolia and P. crenato-serrata, originating at University of Washington Arboretum in 1959.
The foliage is glossy deep green. The leaves are up to 2.5 x 0.5 inches in size.
The white flowers are followed by abundant golden-yellow fruit, up to 0.5 inches wide, that are borne in dense clusters.
Hardy zones 7 +.

'Harlequin'
Moderately thorny and moderate growing, reaching an average size of 6 x 6 feet.
The foliage is attractively variegated with a creamy margin that turns pink in winter. The leaves are up to 2 inches in length.
The berries are intense orange-red.
Hardy zones 5 to 9

'Mohave'
A hybrid originating from Pyracantha koidzumii and P. coccinea 'Wyattii. A very fast growing, dense, spreading shrub reaching up to 13 x 13 feet in 7 years, 18 x 15 feet in 20 years, eventually to 18 x 20 feet.
The oblanceolate leaves are up to 2.5 x 0.8 inches in size. The leathery foliage is glossy deep green. The foliage is both scab and fireblight resistant. Evergreen zones 7 and south, in zone 5 and 6 if is usually deciduous.
The white flowers, up to 0.5 inches wide, are borne in clusters up to 2 inches wide.
The abundant, large bright orange-red berries, up to 0.5 x 0.25 inches in size, are very persistent, lasting from August to late winter.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun to partial shade, perferring sandy loam ( PH 6 to 6.5 ). Very easy to grow and is tolerant of drought and urban conditions.

* photo taken on October 17 2010 in Howard County, MD

* photo taken on Aug 30 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 7 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Jan 7 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 23 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 27 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Dec 30 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Navaho'
A low growing, dense, rounded, semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub, reaching up to 6 x 8 feet. It is a hybrid between Pyracantha angustifolia and P. ‘Watereri’ ( P. coccinea ‘Lalandei’ x P. crenulata ).
The oblanceolate leaves are up to 3.2 x 0.6 inches in size.
The white flowers, up to 0.5 inches wide, are borne in clusters up to 2 inches wide.

bearing intense orange-red berries, up to 0.4 inches long, are borne in clusters up to 2 inches wide. The berries often persist through the winter, even into late spring. Hardy zones 7+. It is scab resistant and also highly resistant to fire blight.

* photo taken on October 17 2010 in Howard County, MD


* photo taken on May 17 2012 in Howard Co., MD
* photos taken on Dec 2 2012 in Catonsville, MD

* photo taken on Nov 30 2016 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on Dec 2 2017 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 3 2023 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 29 2023 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Junw 2 2021 in Annapolis, MD

'Orange Charmer'
A vigorous shrub reaching up to 10 x 12 feet. It often grows up to 2 feet per year. This cultivar originated in Germany and is a hybrid between Pyracantha coccinea x P. rogersiana. The leaves are up to 2 inches in length. The foliage is deep green.
The orange-red berries, up to 0.4 x 0.3 inches in size, are very persistant.
It has excellent disease resistance.
Hardy zones 5 to 9, it has excellent disease resistance.

'Orange Glow'
A vigorous, thorny, upright, large shrub reaching up to 12 x 15 feet. It is probably correctly Pyracantha coccinea lalandii ‘Orange Glow’.
The oblong leaves are up to 2 x 1 inches in size. The foliage is glossy deep green, turning to bronze during late fall and winter.
The white flowers appear during late spring.
The bright orange-scarlet berries, up to 0.4 x 0.3 inches in size, persist into winter.
Hardy zones 5 to 9

'Red Elf'
A fast growing but low, densely mounding shrub, reaching up to 2 x 2 feet. It is a complex hybrid originating during the late 1960s. It is great for edging flower beds and even as a groundcover.
The foliage is glossy deep green.
The abundant, scarlet-red berries persist through most of the winter.
Hardy zones 5 to 9, it has excellent disease resistance.

'Teton'
Fast growing and upright in habit, reaching up to 16 x 15 feet. It is a hybrid of Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ ( likely P. coccinea x P. fortuneana ) and P. rogersiana ‘Flava’, originating in 1963 at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC.
The oblanceolate leaves are up to 2 x 0.6 inches in size.
The white flowers, up to 0.4 inches wide, are borne in clusters up to 2 inches wide.
They are followed by yellowish-orange berries, up to 0.3 x 0.3 inches in size.
Hardy zones 6 to 8, It is considered to be more disease resistant than most.

* photo taken on October 17 2010 in Howard County, MD

* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.





* photo taken on Oct 3 2023 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 29 2023 in Howard Co., MD

'Waterei'
Vigorous and thornless, reaching up to 10 x 10 feet. It is a hybrid between Pyracantha ‘Lalandei’ and P. crenulata, originating in 1934.
The elliptical leaves are up to 2.5 x 0.5 inches in size. The foliage is bronze at first, turning to glossy deep green.
During early summer the entire plant is covered in white flowers.
They are followed in autumn by abundant, bright scarlet-red berries up to 0.4 x 0.3 inches in size.
Hardy zones 5 to 9

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