- Firethorn: flower, origin and properties
- The most beautiful firethorn varieties
- Plant Firethorn
- Care for Firethorn: Pruning, Fertilizing and Co.
- Increase Firethorn
- Wintering
- Is firethorn poisonous?
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With its intensely glowing berries, firethorn is one of those shrubs that add color to parks and gardens in autumn and through winter. Its foliage remains a rich green color throughout the cold season.
Firethorn (Pyracantha) has around ten different species that occur in different countries. The species that is widespread and planted in gardens is called Mediterranean Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea). There are several varieties and hybrids, which mostly differ in fruit color but also in their susceptibility to disease.
Firethorn: flower, origin and properties
The evergreen, thorny shrub belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and its species are distributed from south-eastern Europe to south-eastern Asia. The firethorn is also called fire bush or fiery bush, which is due to its glowing fruits. The growth of the perennial shrub is densely branched with sparse branches. Depending on the species, it reaches heights of 2 to 6 m, although it is already described as a small tree from 5 m. Because of its long, sharp thorns, the firethorn is suitable as a defensive hedge that keeps burglars away from the transplanted property.
Its medium-green, glossy leaves are alternate or arranged in clusters and are ovate to lanceolate. The leaf edges can be smooth or serrated depending on the species. From spring to early summer, the white, hermaphrodite flowers form, which are arranged in umbrella-like clusters on the previous year's branches. As usual for the rose family, the flowers are radially symmetrical and have five petals. Insects such as bees enjoy the rich blooms. In autumn, the closed pods of the hardy firethorn ripen. They are round and the size of a pea, resembling a miniature apple. They can be red, orange or yellow and hang in clusters on the shoot tips of the annual wood. The fruits hang on the thorn bush until late winter and are often eaten by blackbirds and other birds at this time, as they are no longer so sour and hard due to the frost.
The most beautiful firethorn varieties
In the following we will introduce you to the most beautiful and popular firethorn varieties. Above all, the fruit colors and the height of growth vary. The susceptibility to firethorn scab can be classified as very low to low for all of the following varieties according to the tree inspection. In addition, the ˈSoleil d'Orˈ and ˈRed Columnˈ varieties are less susceptible to fire blight.
- Pyracantha coccinea ˈOrange Glowˈ: The firethorn ˈOrange Glowˈ, which was rated as good by the tree sighting, grows to a height of 250 to 350 cm and up to 250 cm wide. Its magical flowers appear from the end of May to the beginning of July. The fruits are colored in an intense orange-yellow.
- Pyracantha coccinea ˈRed Columnˈ: This variety is about 200 to 300 cm high and up to 250 cm wide. The blossoms, which bloom from late May to June, finally transform into flaming red fruits that live up to the firethorn name. ˈRed Columnˈ was also rated as a good strain.
- Pyracantha coccinea ˈSoleil d'Orˈ: This firethorn variety grows to about 175 to 225 cm high and up to 150 cm wide. From May to June it is adorned with white, delicately scented flowers, which ripen into bright yellow fruits that hang on the bush well into the depths of winter. This variety was rated as very good during the tree inspection.
Plant Firethorn
Firethorn thrives best in a sunny location, but light partial shade is also fine. The less sun the shrubs get, the fewer flowers and fruits they produce. The soil should be well-drained, nutrient-rich and humus - but overall the firethorn does not have high requirements. It is very suitable for hedge and solitary planting, as well as topiary, bee pasture and bird food.
The optimal time for planting is from March to August. The shrubs are usually available in containers and the root ball should not be planted too deep. Firethorn is also very suitable for hedge planting. About three plants should be planted per meter of hedge, two plants are sufficient for larger specimens. If the shrub is used as a single plant, it should be about 1.50 m away from othersPlants are respected.
Tip: The firethorn is ideal for bird protection, as the thorns deter predators such as cats and martens from climbing to the nest.
Firethorn in a bucket: The firethorn can also be cultivated in a bucket. It is best to choose a rather short-growing variety such as ˈSoleil d'Orˈ. In winter, the root in the pot must be protected from very low temperatures in order not to suffer any damage. Below we explain how best to protect firethorn in pot culture.
Care for Firethorn: Pruning, Fertilizing and Co.
If the evergreen shrub is in the right place, it does not require any care at all. However, there are the diseases fire blight and scab that occasionally appear on the plant. This can be avoided by choosing resistant varieties, moderate pruning and choosing the right location.
Watering and fertilizing
The firethorn only needs a little watering and the substrate can be rather dry. The plants can even withstand longer periods of drought, but watering is necessary during prolonged dry periods.
In the spring, the firethorn should be supplied with nitrogenous fertilizer, which supports it in the formation of flowers and fruit. The nutrients are applied either in the form of mature compost or organic fertilizer, such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer. This has a balanced NPK ratio and is well suited for shrubs. In addition, soil life is supported by the high proportion of organic starting materials.
firethorn scut
For the firethorn, which is very pruning-tolerant, it is not a problem to get several topiary cuts every year. Its natural growth form is characterized by sparse, spreading branches, which is interesting for birds and insects, but not necessarily aesthetic. Repeated pruning gives the shrub a more compact shape and encourages branching. Pruning in late summer helps to uncover the beautiful berries, which will then be hidden behind newly grown shoots. The firethorn can also tolerate radical pruning, but this should take place in February. Disturbing knots of natural forms should be removed as a whole. If an inhabited bird's nest is discovered in the bush, be sure to postpone the pruning measures until another time.
Tip: Prune firethorn immediately after flowering - this will guarantee thatInsects and birds will enjoy the flowers and fruit again in the coming year.
Firethorn not blooming: What to do?
A poor choice of location or too radical pruning can be reasons for a lack of flowering or a small amount of flowering. If your firethorn is in the shade, it is worth considering moving it to a sunny spot. Since firethorn blossoms most strongly on last year's wood, this wood should under no circumstances be removed in spring - it is better to cut immediately after flowering. Firethorn also blooms on short shoots of perennial wood.
Increase Firethorn
The most effective way to propagate firethorn is through cuttings.
Cuttings
The cuttings are cut from slightly woody shoots at the end of July to September. They should be about 15 to 20 cm long and at least 5 mm in diameter. Then the soft tip and leaves and thorns at the base should be removed. For better rooting, treatment with a rooting powder is worthwhile. Then they are placed about 5 cm deep in a pot with a substrate mixture of equal parts cutting soil and sand or gravel. The vessel should now be placed in a semi-shady place at 12 to 20 °C and the substrate should be kept moist. Rooting should have taken place after four to six weeks. After sufficient roots have formed and the plant sprout well, it can be planted outdoors.
It is best to use a peat-free substrate for the cuttings, such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil. It does not collapse as quickly as peaty soil and is also environmentally friendly.
Sowing
Propagation of firethorn by sowing is also possible, just requires a little more patience. For this purpose, the seeds are collected in autumn or winter and then macerated. This means they should be soaked in water and then washed out so that the pulp around the seeds cannot prevent or delay germination. Now it is time to sow. It is also important that exposure to cold is required to initiate germination. The germination period is 12 to 18 months.
Wintering
The firethorn is hardy down to at least - 20 °C and therefore needs no further protection in thecold season. However, it makes sense to shade the evergreen shrub in winter if it is not already in a shady place - because sunny winter days and subsequent frosty temperatures can cause problems for the foliage. The sun stimulates the transpiration of the leaves, which can cause damage as a result of significantly colder temperatures.
In contrast to the firethorn planted in the ground, the shrub needs protection in the bucket. The best way to avoid frost damage is to overwinter the plant in a bright, cold but frost-free location or place it against a sheltered house wall. You can also wrap the pot with styrofoam and jute bags and cover the soil with leaves.
Is firethorn poisonous?
Although almost all parts of the firethorn plant are non-toxic, they are inedible. The pips in the fruit are the only parts that are mildly toxic to humans. For dogs and cats, however, these are classified as highly toxic. The consumption of raw fruits can only trigger gastrointestinal complaints in humans after increased amounts. In young children, mild poisoning occurs even faster. However, if the fruits are boiled and the seeds are passed through a sieve and removed, the puree can be used as a fruity-sweet spread.
If you've gotten even more in the mood for some color in your garden, you can get more inspiration from our article on colorful plants in winter.