Pyracantha Hedging Guide - all you need to know

Commonly known as firethorn or pyracantha, there are seven officially recognised species and dozens of dazzling varieties. Pyracantha is one of the most appealing, practical shrubs on a gardener’s wishlist. They’re as tough as old boots and relatively trouble-free. 

Coming from the Greek word for fire (pyr) and akanthos (thorn), Pyracantha’s notoriously sharp, thorny stems hint that firethorn belongs to the rose (Rosaceae)  family but that’s where the resemblance ends. Firethorn is famed for compact, evergreen leaves, foaming tiers of white or cream spring flowers and abundant, hanging clusters of eye-catching colourful berries from late summer that drape the shrub well into winter.

Cultivated across Taiwan, the Himalayas, China and Europe since the 16th-century, it’s always useful to know about plant origins because it tells us so much about their preferred conditions and helps us understand what they need to thrive. Pyracantha is a spectacular almost indestructible garden shrub that can cope with extreme cold down to -15° (enter the Himalayan connection.)

They adapt easily as wall-trained climbers, evergreen pyracantha hedges, or make equally impressive focal features. Since they are thorny plants, they make effective intruder-proof hedging or divisions. They’re great for wildlife gardens too, providing secure nesting spots and a brimming larder for foraging birds. (Apparently, our feathered friends go for the orange berries over the red ones - who knew?)

How to spot pyracantha: Small, rounded evergreen foliage, creamy spring flowers are followed by vibrant orange, red and yellow berries from summer to autumn.

Flowering time: Spring to summer

Likes: Any reasonable, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade

Dislikes: Waterlogged, boggy soil; flowers and berries are reduced in full shade and north-facing spots.

Growth rate: 30-60cm annually

Hardiness: Fully hardy to -15°

AGM: Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ and ‘Red’ have been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit

Foliage

Typically, evergreen pyracantha has oval-tipped, dense, mid to deep green leaves and trademark sharp spines or thorns along straight, slender stems. There are lots of appealing varieties to choose from, including those with unusual variegated foliage.

Fruit

Growing a wildlife-friendly hedge makes a diverting addition in any garden for nature watching and the firethorn’s network of armoured stems makes it a great nesting site for small birds offering breakfast in bed when they feast on the ripe berries. Pyracantha berries or fruit are amongst the most eye-catching of autumn splendour ranging from saffron yellow, pillar-box red and satsuma orange. 

Understandably, gardeners often worry if pyracantha berries are poisonous but their berries have been used in folk medicine for centuries and aren’t harmful to humans or animals, although we don’t recommend you eat too many! Firethorn berries follow masses of lightly fragrant white or creamy flowers in summer and arguably, birds find the berries as attractive as we do.

Stems

Pyracantha delivers on all levels; they are very ornamental, can help absorb traffic noise, and make excellent windbreaks with an impressive 50-60% wind reduction. Firethorn’s arching, straight stems create effective intruder-proof hedges for both urban and countryside boundaries, reliably deterring intruders of both animal and human variety because of its dense habit and hidden thorns.

When to plant Pyracantha

Planting pyracantha is easy, it can be planted at any time of year, at any time of day (or evening if you're in the mood!) but steer clear of very wet or frozen conditions. In dry weather or prolonged drought, make sure you give young plants plenty of water and struggling mature plants sometimes appreciate a water boost.

Where to plant pyracantha

Any reasonable, well-drained soil including sandy, clay or loam in full sun to part shade; flowering and berries are reduced in full shade. If you need hedging planting tips, find out more with our handy step-by-step guide.

When to prune pyracantha

When to prune pyracantha depends on how you’ve chosen to grow it. Naturally, hedges need more pruning to keep them looking smart, usually 2-3 times a year is ample. This can be done ideally after spring flowering and again, in late summer. Always wear tough gloves when pruning to protect against the thorns. You’ll be removing the berries in late summer, so try to retain as many as is practical. If you’re looking to achieve a more natural, informal look, just remove any dead, diseased or straggly stems as needed from spring to autumn. Still not sure how to prune firethorn? Pop over to our easy pyracantha pruning guide.

How to water pyracantha

New plants should be watered regularly to prevent them from drying out during their first spring and summer. Once established, seasonal rain will usually take care of the watering for you. However, wall-trained or container-grown shrubs may need watering more regularly as the soil is prone to dry out more quickly in these conditions. Don’t forget to provide extra water in prolonged dry weather. We recommend an annual mulch of organic matter or homemade compost rather than adding fertiliser as mulching not only suppresses weed growth but helps trap water in the soil.

How fast does pyracantha grow?

How quickly does pyracantha grow?  Depending on what cultivar you’ve chosen, typically pyracantha reach an ultimate height and spread of 4m x 4m with an annual growth rate between 30-60cm.

Pyracantha pests 

Firethorns are usually trouble-free, but all plants attract unwelcome pests from time to time. The good news is that they are seldom serious and easily remedied. Since pyracantha belongs to the rose (Rosaceae) family, expect the same sort of diseases and pests including aphids and scale insects. Find out more about how to deter and control firethorn pests here. Canker, fireblight and pyracantha scab are the main pyracantha diseases to look out for. 

Canker: A fungal disease that infects plants via old pruning wounds, cracks in the bark or stressed plants. Telltale signs include dark, sunken patches on the bark and branches, discoloured foliage dropping from the plant prematurely and split bark. You may notice browny-black fruiting bodies on the cankers.

Solution: 

• Always use clean cutting tools
• Plant disease-resistant varieties whenever possible and avoid heavy pruning
• Avoid over-watering and give plants plenty of space to improve ventilation
• Remove infected branches and destroy immediately
• Inspect plants regularly for early symptoms
• Natural fungicidal sprays are available from reputable garden retailers

Fireblight: Scorched, crispy dry leaves are a sign of a fireblight - not be confused with natural browning of leaves in autumn. It can affect any plant in the rose family, (including apples and pears.) This bacterial disease attacks young growth and the tips of stems and travels down the branches making them die back and leaves often remain on the plant. A reddish-brown ooze can be spotted on the bark in warmer months. Fireblight survives over winter and will spread if not treated, so treat at the first sign of trouble. 

Solution:

• Always use clean cutting tools
• Plant disease-resistant varieties whenever possible and avoid heavy pruning.
• Avoid planting near any member of the rose family, including apples and pears.
• Remove infected branches and burn immediately
• Inspect plants regularly for early symptoms
• Natural fungicidal sprays are available from reputable garden retailers.

Pyracantha scab is a fungal disease that affects leaves, flowers and fruit but is not nearly as serious as fireblight. Young foliage and berries are most vulnerable to infection causing olive green, brown and black leaf-spotting but it can also be seen on the stems. Leaves yellow and fall prematurely

Solution: 

• Plant disease-resistant varieties whenever possible
• Inspect plants regularly for early symptoms
• Always use clean cutting tools
• Prune when the plant is dormant to minimise infection
• Collect and destroy affected leaves immediately

If you want to learn more about how pests and diseases can affect your garden plants or learn how to troubleshoot potential problems, take a quick look at our blog post that tells you more about the most common pests and diseases.

If pyracantha isn’t for you, don’t worry! At Hedges Direct we offer a wide variety of irresistible, colourful, prickly (and non-prickly) alternatives.

If you’d like some help or more information about planting firethorn or pyracantha hedging, talk to one of our Hedges Direct's experts at 01257 263 873 or email us at [email protected]