Pyracantha Species, Red Firethorn, Scarlet Firethorn

Pyracanthacoccinea

Family
Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ee)
Genus
Pyracantha (py-ra-KAN-tha)
Species
coccinea (kok-SIN-ee-uh)
Synonym
Pyracantha pauciflora
Pyracantha spinosa
Pyracantha vulgaris
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Evergreen
Provides Winter Interest
Height
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Danger
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Mid Spring
Other Details
Category
Shrubs
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Suitable for growing in containers
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
From seed; germinate in a damp paper towel
By grafting
Seed Collecting
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Atmore, Alabama

Cottonwood, Arizona

Hereford, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona(2 reports)

Tucson, Arizona

Canoga Park, California

Crockett, California

Cupertino, California

Fallbrook, California(5 reports)

Manhattan Beach, California

Manteca, California

Oak View, California(2 reports)

San Diego, California

San Jose, California

Clifton, Colorado

Bartow, Florida

Green Cove Springs, Florida

Lecanto, Florida

Lutz, Florida

Oviedo, Florida

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Guyton, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

Vincennes, Indiana

Somerset, Kentucky

Hernando, Mississippi

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Henderson, Nevada

Old Bridge, New Jersey

Brooklyn, New York

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Waxhaw, North Carolina(2 reports)

Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Port Matilda, Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania

Conway, South Carolina

Swansea, South Carolina

Blaine, Tennessee

Corpus Christi, Texas

Dallas, Texas

El Paso, Texas

Irving, Texas

Kerrville, Texas

Red Oak, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Santa Fe, Texas

Leesburg, Virginia

Roanoke, Virginia

Kennewick, Washington

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

11
positives
1
neutral
1
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
R
Downingtown, PA | January 2014 | negative

This plant is nasty to get close to or to have to prune or remove weeds near it because of its many sharp thorns. I've been wounded many ...Read More

N
N
Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9a) | December 2013 | positive

Superstar shrub in Phoenix, AZ. Planted in full sun, loves the heat, never appears stressed. Deep green leaves throughout the year, is ...Read More

S
Blaine, TN | May 2013 | positive

I have one and it is outvof control. Live in knoxville tn. Will it harm it to do major pruning? We had purchased 2 but one died. I love h...Read More

P
Green Cove Springs, FL | July 2010 | positive

These were grown as hedges out in Calif. probably due to their drought-tolerance, low maintenance, & attractive berries. I bought one fo...Read More

M
| May 2010 | neutral

I am a little bit surprised when one of my friends who got some seeds from me got a fast germination compared to seeds batch which got so...Read More

M
Somerset, KY (Zone 6b) | January 2010 | positive

I loved growing Pyrancantha for the berries. I have a great recipe for pyracantha glaze and will be looking to plant some at my new house...Read More

O
Oak View, CA | August 2007 | positive

I enjoy the blossoms and berries from my neighbor's plant...the plant is tall enough to hang over the fence. The bees love the blossoms ...Read More

J
Swansea, SC | June 2006 | positive

Excellent for planting under windows if there is a danger of teens climbing out (or in), because of the thorns it's hard to get out of wi...Read More

I
Denver, CO | December 2005 | positive

These grow in alkaline and salty soils, too. They also seem to take some amount of drought, as they are still around old abandoned house...Read More

T
T
Santa Fe, TX (Zone 9b) | October 2004 | positive

A beautiful plant. Evergreen, the thorns can be used to create a fence with this plant. The Red variety is prone to freezing, but the O...Read More

C
C
CMW
| June 2003 | positive

I really like this plant because it will grow on almost any kind of soil, and with that it stay's green in winter. By the way, I also hav...Read More

B
San Francisco, CA | November 2002 | positive

Berries can be orange or red depending on the variety. The red berries look great for Christmas decorations. Birds who eat the berries be...Read More

S
| October 2002 | positive

This shrub is covered in small white flowers in the spring, but the best feature of this shrub is the clusters of orange berries it has i...Read More

Featured
Soybean Looper
(Pseudoplusia includens)
Dark-eyed Junco
(Junco hyemalis)
Featured
Soybean Looper
(Pseudoplusia includens)
Dark-eyed Junco
(Junco hyemalis)