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Cobb County Extension Service

Fact Sheet on Pyracantha

Rachel Swinford
Horticulture Program Assistant

email: uge1067@arches.uga.edu

Pyracantha coccinea

Scarlet Firethorn

Family: Rosaceae (Rose)

Native: Italy

Hardiness: Zone 6 - 9 – Hardiest types to -20ºF.

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast

Uses: Informal hedge, barrier, espaliers, trellises

Pyracantha offers a blaze of berries on a strong, handsome shrub. With flowers in the spring and berries in the fall, the Firethorn provides year round interest. This rapid growing shrub makes an excellent hedge or espalier. However, if left unattended, the pyracantha can become quite unruly with its long, arching branches and vicious thorns.

Description:

Flower:

Blooms late April on last year's growth. White, 1/3" across, on 2 to 3" long clusters. Malodorous, subdued odor.

Leaves:

Evergreen. 1 to 2 1/2" long, lustrous dark green, lightly serrated. May become somewhat bronze in the fall in colder climates.

Stems:

Wooly, purple-green, turning to glossy brown. Spines 1/2 to 3/4" long.

Fruit:

Rounded, berry-like, 1/4" diameter. Orange, orange-red or yellow ripening in September and persistent into winter. Very showy especially on unpruned shrubs.

Habit:

Mounded, open with stiff, thorny branches if left unpruned.

Planting & Maintenance:

Propagation:

Softwood cuttings in early summer, treated with rooting hormone. Semi hardwood cuttings in late summer. Large cuttings, 1 to 2' long, produce good-sized plants quickly.

Planting:

Can be difficult to establish. Plant in spring. Once established it should not be moved.

Site:

Moist, well-drained soil. Prefers dry soil in the summer. pH 5.5-7.5.

Full sun. Less fruiting in partial shade but will do well.

Water:

Moist, well-drained soil.

Temperature:

Hardy to -10ºF.

Fertilization:

8-8-8 or 10-10-10 at the rate of one tablespoon per foot height in May or according to a soil test.

Pruning:

After blooming, sets buds in fall. Remove long shoots to maintain shape. Can be sheared for hedge. Pruning in autumn or early spring will not harm the plant but will affect flowering and fruiting. Provide support if pruning for espalier.

Warning: Pyracantha thorns can cause reactions in humans. Wear leather gloves when handling.

Cultivars:

Fiery Cascade

Upright, 8' high, 9' spread, small glossy dark green leaves, abundant small red fruit, first orange in September, red in October and persisting, good disease resistance, hardy to -10ºF.

Gnome

6' high, 8' spread, densely branched, spreading, 1/4" to 3/8" orange fruit, hardy to Zone 5, highly susceptible to scab.

Gold Rush

10' high and wide, intricately branched, 1/2' orange-yellow fruit so numerous the branches arch to the ground, hardy to Zone 7, resistant to scab.

Kasan

10' high and wide, spreading, orange-red fruit, hardy to Zone 5, susceptible to scab.

Lalandei

10' to 15' high, orange-red fruit, hardy to Zone 5, susceptible to scab.

Mohave

Upright 9' to 12 ' high and wide, heavy flowers and bright orange-red berries, hardy to 0ºF, resistant to scab and fireblight.

Navaho

6' high, 7.5' wide, low growing, orange-red fruit, resistant to scab and tolerant to fireblight.

Rutgers

3' high, 9' wide, sprawling, orange-red fruit, hardy to 0ºF, resistant to disease.

Yukon Belle™

6' to 10' high and wide, orange fruit, hardy to Zone 5, susceptible to scab and fireblight.

Problems:

Scab

Leaves, twigs, and berries develop olive drab to black spots when infected. Remove all diseased leaves, twigs and fruit. Remove all debris from under the plant. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.

Fireblight

Dieback of stems and leaves. Bacterial ooze often is associated with blighted tissues. Prune out affected branches several inches below the sight. Disinfect pruners between cuts. Check soil for acidity. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.

Lacebug

Feeds on the undersides of leaves. Light stippling appears on the upper surface. Check for and destroy all egg clusters. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap as directed. Remove all debris from under the plant. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.

Scale

Small, brown, or pale yellow, flat disk. Produces large amounts of honeydew resulting n sooty mold. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil as directed. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.

Spider mite

Diffuse yellowing of leaves with continued chlorosis, frequently culminating in a bronzed or brown appearance. Spray with forceful jet of water. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap as directed. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.

Photos courtesy of Michael A. Dirr's Photo-Library of Woody Landscape Plants

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Michael A. Dirr, 1998

Landscape Plants of the Southeast, R. Gordon Halfacre, Anne R. Shawcroft, Fifth Edition 1989

Secrets of PLANT PROPAGATION, Lewis Hill, 1985

Virginia Cooperative Extension Service Website http://www.ext.vt.edu

Ohio State University Cooperative Extension Service Website http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu

The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability.

Leah Wilson 02/01

Description:	Flower:	Blooms late April on last year's growth. White, 1/3" across, on 2 to 3" long clusters. Malodorous, subdued odor.
	Leaves:	Evergreen. 1 to 2 1/2" long, lustrous dark green, lightly serrated. May become somewhat bronze in the fall in colder climates.
	Stems:	Wooly, purple-green, turning to glossy brown. Spines 1/2 to 3/4" long.
	Fruit:	Rounded, berry-like, 1/4" diameter. Orange, orange-red or yellow ripening in September and persistent into winter. Very showy especially on unpruned shrubs.
	Habit:	Mounded, open with stiff, thorny branches if left unpruned.
Planting & Maintenance:	Propagation:	Softwood cuttings in early summer, treated with rooting hormone. Semi hardwood cuttings in late summer. Large cuttings, 1 to 2' long, produce good-sized plants quickly.
	Planting:	Can be difficult to establish. Plant in spring. Once established it should not be moved.
	Site:	Moist, well-drained soil. Prefers dry soil in the summer. pH 5.5-7.5. Full sun. Less fruiting in partial shade but will do well.
	Water:	Moist, well-drained soil.
	Temperature:	Hardy to -10ºF.
	Fertilization:	8-8-8 or 10-10-10 at the rate of one tablespoon per foot height in May or according to a soil test.
	Pruning:	After blooming, sets buds in fall. Remove long shoots to maintain shape. Can be sheared for hedge. Pruning in autumn or early spring will not harm the plant but will affect flowering and fruiting. Provide support if pruning for espalier. Warning: Pyracantha thorns can cause reactions in humans. Wear leather gloves when handling.
Cultivars:	Fiery Cascade	Upright, 8' high, 9' spread, small glossy dark green leaves, abundant small red fruit, first orange in September, red in October and persisting, good disease resistance, hardy to -10ºF.
	Gnome	6' high, 8' spread, densely branched, spreading, 1/4" to 3/8" orange fruit, hardy to Zone 5, highly susceptible to scab.
	Gold Rush	10' high and wide, intricately branched, 1/2' orange-yellow fruit so numerous the branches arch to the ground, hardy to Zone 7, resistant to scab.
	Kasan	10' high and wide, spreading, orange-red fruit, hardy to Zone 5, susceptible to scab.
	Lalandei	10' to 15' high, orange-red fruit, hardy to Zone 5, susceptible to scab.
	Mohave	Upright 9' to 12 ' high and wide, heavy flowers and bright orange-red berries, hardy to 0ºF, resistant to scab and fireblight.
	Navaho	6' high, 7.5' wide, low growing, orange-red fruit, resistant to scab and tolerant to fireblight.
	Rutgers	3' high, 9' wide, sprawling, orange-red fruit, hardy to 0ºF, resistant to disease.
	Yukon Belle™	6' to 10' high and wide, orange fruit, hardy to Zone 5, susceptible to scab and fireblight.
Problems:	Scab	Leaves, twigs, and berries develop olive drab to black spots when infected. Remove all diseased leaves, twigs and fruit. Remove all debris from under the plant. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.
	Fireblight	Dieback of stems and leaves. Bacterial ooze often is associated with blighted tissues. Prune out affected branches several inches below the sight. Disinfect pruners between cuts. Check soil for acidity. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.
	Lacebug	Feeds on the undersides of leaves. Light stippling appears on the upper surface. Check for and destroy all egg clusters. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap as directed. Remove all debris from under the plant. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.
	Scale	Small, brown, or pale yellow, flat disk. Produces large amounts of honeydew resulting n sooty mold. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil as directed. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.
	Spider mite	Diffuse yellowing of leaves with continued chlorosis, frequently culminating in a bronzed or brown appearance. Spray with forceful jet of water. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap as directed. Contact your Extension Agent for chemical control.