General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 6a -23.3 °C (-10 °F) to -20.6 °C (-5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 6 - 18 feet
Plant Spread: 6 - 18 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Other: Small orange-red berries.
Fruiting Time: Fall
Flowers: Showy
Malodorous
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Edible Parts: Fruit
Eating Methods: Cooked
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Pollinators: Bees
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth

Image
Common names
  • Firethorn
  • Scarlet Firethorn

Photo Gallery
Location: Arenas Valley, NM My Home
Date: 2018-05-07
Location: Willow Valley Communities Lakes Campus, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2019-09-30
Location: Bristol, Pennsylvania
Date: 2013-09-30
Showy Autumn true-orange berries
Location: Arenas Valley, NM My Home
Date: 2018-05-04
Location: London, England!
Date: 2014-09-29
Location: Arenas Valley, NM our yard
Date: 2016-11-10
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Botanical Garden near Brussels)
Date: 2022-10-17
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2016-11-05
Location: Bristol, Pennsylvania
Date: 2015-09-25
Autumn is here-the pyracantha berries are turning true orange in
Location: Kerrville, TX
Date: April 16, 2004
Location: Bristol, Pennsylvania
Date: 2014-05-27
Notice the rust colored thorn by the top flower cluster...ouch!
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Botanical Garden near Brussels)
Date: 2022-10-17

Date: 2012-10-03
Location: Kerrville, TX
Date: Apri 26, 2003
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Meise Botanical Garden)
Date: 2023-10-16
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Meise Botanical Garden)
Date: 2023-10-16
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2013-05-19
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-11-30

Date: 2011-12-17

Date: 2012-10-03

Date: 2012-10-03
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-03-05
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2012-05-04

Date: 2011-12-17

Date: 2011-12-17
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2011-12-17
Comments:
  • Posted by plantmanager (New Mexico - Zone 8a) on Feb 18, 2018 6:37 PM concerning plant:
    I've loved these plants ever since my parents grew them in Arizona when I was a child. They could survive droughts, grew rampantly, responded quickly to hard pruning, and never failed to put on a gorgeous show with the white flowers later turning into the beautiful orange berries. The birds loved those berries! It was funny that when the berries were very old, but still on the plant, they would ferment and must have gotten a bit alcoholic! Birds would eat them and later be acting like they were tipsy. Some would land on the fence, and fall off while others staggered around on the ground. It never seemed to hurt them.

    I now grow one here in NM. It is having a hard time because the deer are keeping it pruned way down. They do have hard thorns, but the deer don't seem to mind the thorns. Mine here doesn't flower as much, or get the berries like they did in AZ, but they still make a very nice plant with good winter color.
  • Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Apr 22, 2012 1:46 PM concerning plant:
    Valuable source of nectar and pollen for honey bees.
Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Misidentified? by dave Dec 29, 2016 9:27 AM 6
Misplaced Image by BlueOddish Nov 3, 2021 6:38 PM 0

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