Pyracantha: an adventure in impaling

Greek (pyr), fire + (akantha), thorn

Pyracantha (pĭr'əkăn'thə)
Firethorn

God's Barbed Wire



The Eurasian evergreen’s primary claim
to fame comes from its glorious ‘berries’




















Family: Rosaceae

Leaves: oval, dark green, shiny, 1 to 1 1/2in long



Pyracantha spring flowers


Flowers: clusters of cream white flowers, 1/4in diameter




Bonsai in Japan




 

one of the best shrubs for wildlife



Fruits: The pomes are extremely bitter to human taste, but are consumed by a variety of birds that have quite a ‘pyracantha party’ until there are no fruit left. Flowers and fruits appear on year-old wood.



‘pyracantha party’


Hardiness: to 10°F Avoid freezing winds throughout the winter periods.
In cold climates Pyracantha would be a Cool House Bonsai


Soil: good drainage; tolerates alkaline soil


Pruning: can be pruned very hard and will adapt.... they make great topiaries, espaliers, and bonsai; it is easy to shape them as you wish. However pyracantha is thorny-son-of-a-gun and working with them is an adventure in impaling. After all they are called “fire thorn”!



one of the best shrubs for a wildlife garden

 



Pyracantha bonsai farm in Japan



Pyracantha Bonsai Care


Pyracantha jelly


Pyracantha wine has an unusual but not unpleasant taste.


Tenosynovitis caused by Pyracantha coccinea thorn injury of the hand

Tenosynovitis