Firethorn
(Pyracantha)

Though mainly known for its spiny shrub, the Pyracantha is also well-known for the shiny, deep red berries that burst through in Autumn, along with a sprinkling of delicate creamy-white coloured flowers in May/June time. It is amazingly eye-catching year-round. The berries are flowers attract many species of wildlife, including insects and birds, as they are both seen as an ideal food source.

That in mind, you should ensure you prune right after flowering to expose any spent flowers to sunshine, which will turn to berries in the colder months.

The Pyracantha Red Berries is quite the tough and hardy plant, which can grow rather quickly at a rate of approximately 50cm per annum. This makes it ideal if you are wanting to add some security or privacy to your garden.

The Pyracantha Red Berries is easy to grow in pretty much any type of soil and is best placed in sunny or shady sites. However, it is important to notice that this plant will not tolerate seaside gardens, very windy sites, or a dense shade.

• Growth height: Fast (40-60cm per year)
• Ideal height: 2.5m+ Tall
• Soil Type: Normal
• Exposure: Exposed, Inland
• Aspect: Semi-shade, Sun
• Evergreen foliage? Yes

Pruning your Pyracantha Red Berries is not necessarily needed, unless you are wanting to keep it a certain height/shape- which if you are growing it as a hedge, this is usually the case.

When you first plant your Pyracantha, the plant should be left for a couple of years, so that a good root system can establish. Pruning must be done at the right time, because if not, it could easily impact the flowering and fruiting system in the following year.

The best time to do any pruning is at the end of the flowering in the late Spring. You must also ensure you maintain a good airflow around the shrub, as you do not want any diseases getting into your Pyracantha. To ensure this does not happen, make sure the centre does not get overly dense- trim some outer stems away. Do not hard prune- it will make it harder for the plant to recover and be effective/productive.

When should I plant Pyracantha?

The best time to plant Pyracantha is ideally during the autumn or winter seasons, but it can be planted at any time during the year (as long the ground is not frozen). This is because the plant is very tolerant to many soil types, including very dry and heavy clays (but not those prone to waterlogging).

How far apart do you plant Pyracantha plants?

If planting your Pyracantha plants in rows, you will need to space the rows about 70-100cm apart, leaving a 60-90cm gap between each plant. If you have a single row of plants, it will easily form a hedge that is up to 4ft wide, which is usually the ideal width for a lot of gardens.

Please note, smaller plants such as 40/60cm will need to be planted closer, at around 30cm apart, for an established hedge much quicker.

How to plant Pyracantha:

Dig a trench where lengthy hedging is needed, being around 2ft wide and 40/50cm deep. If you have quite large plants, however, this will need to be increased. Be sure to also remove any weeds/stones within the planting area.

Next, break up the soil using a fork, and make sure the trench is the right depth by measuring against the root ball of a plant - you will also need to add a few inches of manure/compost underneath the plants, so make sure you leave room for this.

Spread out the compost or manure at the bottom of the trench. Place the plants into the trench, using the spacing guide, and fill back up with any excess soil. Press the soil down lightly, around the base of the plant, to secure it nicely.

Rake around the soil lightly and water thoroughly. Ensure you water regularly until you get an established hedge, so for about a year or so after planting - do not let it dry out, as the plants will end up dying due to drought stress (though after a year, next-to-none watering is required).