Pyracantha coccinea
Scarlet Firethorn

Family:

Rosaceae (Rose Family) 211

Genus:

Pyracantha (Firethorn Fire Thorn Thorn, Fire) 4

Plant Type:

Shrub 468

Growth Forms:

Upright 574

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 6 39

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Semi-evergreen 27

Flower Notes:

White (Small white flowers (0.3" dia.) in 2-3" long and 1-2" dia. compound corymbs in May and early June)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Glossy, dark green, semi-evergreen foliage)

Fruit Notes:

Orange (Bright orange or red pomes of 0.25" dia. appear in September and persist into winter)

Ultimate Height:

6-18 feet

Ultimate Spread:

6-18 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Widely adapted to different soils

Range:

Europe and Western Asia

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves (1-2.5" long by 0.25-0.75" wide) are alternate, simple, narrow-elliptic or lanceolate, crenulate-serrulate, apex often has a sturdy point, lustrous dark green above and slightly pubescent beneath on young leaves. Stem wooly at first become glossy brown with spines that are 0.5-0.75" long.

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Special Characteristics:

Fruiting Characteristics 115

Additional Information

A favorite for espalier training, because of the adaptable branching habit and showy orange-red fruits. Tends to be semi-evergreen in cooler climates and evergreen in warmer climates. Adapted to a variety of soils and environments. Fireblight can be serious. Other problems are scab and leaf and twig blight.