Fire thorns are an extremely pleasant and decorative hedge plant with their white, fragrant grape flowers and fire-colored, lush fruit heads. They are also easy to care for and increase the diversity of beneficial insects and birds in your garden.
What characterizes firethorn as a garden plant?
Firethorn (Pyracantha) is an attractive, easy-care shrub that makes a decorative hedge plant with its beautiful white flowers in spring and bright berries in autumn. It thrives in sunny to partially shaded locations and is frost and heat resistant. The berries are inedible for humans, but provide food for birds.
Origin
From our perspective, the wild forms of the firethorn genus, botanically Pyracantha, originally come from southeastern areas. The Mediterranean firethorn, Pyracantha coccinea, has its origins in southeastern Europe, the three other wild forms Pyracantha crenatoserrata, P. rogersiana and P. koidzumii come from China and Taiwan. In our latitudes, garden forms are mainly cultivated that are bred as crosses from the various wild forms. They cope very well with the local climatic conditions.
To remember:
- The four wild forms come from Southeastern Europe to Southeast Asia
- We mainly use garden forms, crosses from wild forms
- Thrive very well in our climate
Growth
The fire thorns grow as upright bushes with sparse branches and a very dense crown. Overall, they grow to around 2 to 6 meters high - there are clear differences depending on the variety. Some of the larger varieties also have a tree-like habit. Its branches are covered in dark brown, later grayish to olive-colored bark and covered with long, pointed thorns.
The growth characteristics at a glance:
- Upright, shrubby to tree-like growth
- sparse branching, dense crown formation
- Depending on the variety, 2 to 6 meters high
- Dark-barked and long-thorned branches
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leaves
The leaves of the firethorn are usually alternate on short stems or in clusters on the branches. With their elongated, inverted ovoid to lanceolate shape and smooth to finely serrated edges, they have a certain similarity to other hedge plants such as hawthorn or privet. Their rich, dark green color, which is slightly lighter on the undersides, remains throughout the year and therefore serves as an effective privacy screen. Only in extremely severe sub-zero temperatures can fire thorns shed their leaves.
The leaf characteristics in key words:
- Alternate to clump-like
- Inverted ovate to lanceolate
- Smooth to finely sawn edge
- Rich dark green, lighter color at the bottom
- Evergreen, are only shed in very hard frost
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Bloom
The flowers of the firethorn open in spring around April or May and are very similar to those of the hawthorn. They are pretty, small, white umbrella panicles that are lush and close together. The individual flowers have five petals over five green sepals and up to 15 long stamens. The abundance of numbers and nectar in the dense inflorescences is also a valuable pasture for insects.
The firethorn blossoms summarized again:
- Flowering period from April/May
- Dense, lush umbrella panicles in white
- Rich nectar supply for beneficial insects
Fruit
The fruits of the firethorn ripen in autumn and are just as numerous as the flowers thanks to the willing pollination of insects. The firethorn also owes its name to its yellow to orange-red or red color. The firethorn berries look a bit like small apples and are about the size of a pea. Birds like to eat them, but unfortunately they are largely inedible for humans.
Usage
The firethorn is particularly valued as a hedge plant because of its dense growth. Because it has so many thorns, some plant dealers even advertise it as a burglar-resistant plant. Its bright berries, which appear in yellow, orange and red depending on the cultivation, are also a beautiful fruit decoration over a long period. They also serve as a food source for many birds and thus increase the diversity of garden fauna. But the dense branches of the firethorn are also good for the bird world - well-protected nesting quarters can be built here that keep predators such as martens and cats away.
For humans, the berries of the firethorn, as seductive as they shine, are unfortunately inedible and even slightly poisonous. The plant can't really be used in the kitchen - you can only make a tasty and tolerable puree by cooking and separating the pulp from the seeds - but that means a lot of work with the Fleet Lotte.
How to use the Firethorn:
- As a dense, privacy-protecting hedge
- As a decorative ornament (flowers, bright fruit decorations)
- Promoting garden fauna diversity
- Conditional: culinary processing of the fruits
Hedge
As a hedge, firethorn has both practical and aesthetic benefits. Due to its dense, thorny growth and evergreen foliage, it can be a good shielding property border. The more pruning you give it, the greater this effect will be. Due to the simple beauty of the flowers described above and the lush, colorful fruit formation, you can also enjoy a very decorative view in spring and a long phase in autumn.read more
Which location is suitable?
The firethorn is generally relatively undemanding, which is another advantage for using it as a hedge plant. It can be placed in sunny to partially shaded areas, but in the sun it produces significantly more flowers and fruits. It is very robust against wind and weather and can usually survive longer periods of heat without any problems.
When it comes to soil conditions, firethorn is also pleasingly tolerant. The soil should not be too wet; fresh, permeable soil is also conducive to good growth - if it is too lean, you should enrich it with compost from time to time when planting and later in the spring. The pH value doesn't really matter to the firethorn.
To remember:
- Location as sunny as possible
- Very robust against harsh weather and heat
- Base not too wet and not too lean (otherwise: compost fertilization)
- ph value virtually insignificant
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What is the best time to plant?
You can basically plant pre-grown shrubs from the garden center at any time of the year. However, spring and summer are best suited so that the plants can grow in peace.
The correct planting distance
If you want to plant firethorn as a hedge, plant around 2 to 3 specimens per meter, depending on the size of the young bushes you purchased.
Cut firethorn correctly
Especially if you want to cultivate the firethorn as a privacy hedge, you should cut it regularly. This keeps the growth compact and prevents the crown from becoming too sparse and light. It is best to prune immediately after flowering. Simply thin out the bush a little and shorten the outer shoots. But: because of the sharp thorns, don't forget gloves (€16.00 on Amazon), preferably with cuffs!
The firethorn also tolerates more radical pruning quite well, it is very willing to sprout again.
If you don't want to do without the bright, fire-colored fruit decorations in autumn, you should of course refrain from cutting and leave the flowers. Although it would produce a few pollinable flowers after cutting, the fruit yield would of course be much lower.
The cutting recommendations at a glance:
- If you want a dense, privacy-protecting hedge: Regular, compact pruning after flowering
- If a rich, autumnal fruit decoration is desired: No pruning
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Bonsai
Due to its dense growth and its high regenerative capacity, firethorn is also suitable for bonsai cultivation. It does not require any particularly advanced experience. It is very easy to train into a mini trunk that easily takes on a tree-like character thanks to its dense crown.
For bonsai cultivation, place the firethorn in a planter with bonsai soil and volcanic granules. The location also needs as much sunlight as possible. You should initially repot your mini firethorn every two years. You should water moderately, as waterlogging can definitely lead to root rot. If you also want the bright fruits on your bonsai firethorn, you can stimulate it with bonsai fertilizer every 2 weeks after flowering.
To shape, you can aim for a classic mini-tree shape by regularly shortening the lower shoots and simply sharpening the contour of the crown every spring. You should also thin out old branches towards the end of the vegetation phase.
Advanced or more artistically demanding people can also work with wires and tension.
Bonsai care at a glance:
- Firethorn is well suited for simple bonsai cultivation thanks to its dense growth and good regenerative ability
- Substrate: Bonsai soil with volcanic granules
- Sunny location, moderate watering
- Shapes: For example as a mini tree or more differentiated with wires
- Fertilize for fruiting after flowering
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Diseases
Firethorn is fairly resistant to disease. The most likely thing that can harm it is if the ground is too wet - then it can start to rot even in the open field. So when planting, pay careful attention to a rather dry location with good drainage.
Some firethorn varieties can also be affected by scab fungus - but most garden varieties are resistant to it. If you have a non-resistant variety and scab occurs, you should immediately remove the diseased parts of the plant and apply a fungicide.
Occasionally the firethorn can also be affected by fire blight. This bacterial disease is notifiable because it spreads like an epidemic and is unfortunately incurable. It is manifested by wilting and a brown-black discoloration of the leaves, later the shoot tips break off due to severed supply pathways. Depending on its age, the plant dies after 3 weeks to several years.read more
Remove
If you want to remove a firethorn, you have to be prepared for quite arduous work. The rose plant has a deep, dense root system that is difficult to completely dig out. Of course, the work is also made more difficult by the sharp thorns on the above-ground part of the plant.
First, remove all large branches so that you have easier access to the trunk. Then loosen the root area as much as possible to get to the main root strands. You cut these off with a knife and then try to move the plant. You can then dig up the remaining roots even further, depending on whether you want to plant something new in the spot or leave the spot free.read more
Is firethorn poisonous?
The firethorn is not poisonous in itself. Most parts of the plant, i.e. the roots, branches and leaves, do not contain any toxins. Things are a little different with fruits. The bright yellow to orange-red berries contain substances in their seeds that are not really toxic, but do lead to unpleasant symptoms when consumed. These primarily include the flavonoid rutin and chlorogenic acid. Above all, the hydrogen cyanide that forms during its metabolism is a critical factor.
In small children, excessive consumption can cause digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. For adults, the concentration of the substances is too low to cause serious problems if consumed.
The effect of hydrogen cyanide is more critical in cats and dogs because they have a harder time breaking it down. If your pet has eaten firethorn berries, severe energy metabolism and circulatory disorders can occur. If possible, induce vomiting in the animal, do not give it any liquid to drink and consult a veterinarian immediately.read more
Tip
If you attach particular importance to late summer and autumn fruit decorations, combining different colored fruiting varieties in a hedge community is also recommended. This means you will literally get a colorful fireworks display that is particularly beautiful to look at in the light of golden Octobers.
Varieties
The hybrid varieties for the garden are primarily categorized based on their berry color. They are available in the fire colors yellow, orange and red. Here you can choose depending on your taste and ability to combine with neighboring garden plants. Scab resistance is often emphasized by traders, but it is present in the vast majority of varieties.
Yellow varieties
Soleil d’Or
The best known of the yellow-fruited varieties is the Soleil d’Or. Their berries shine in a beautiful golden yellow. It is a small variety and only grows to around 2 meters high and around one to one and a half meters wide. In terms of its growth rate, at 10 to 30 centimeters per year, it is not necessarily ideal for effective and quick property fencing.
The Soleil d’Or is very scab resistant and quite frost hardy. It tolerates regular cutting well. The small, white flowers appear from May to June and exude a wonderfully sweet scent.
It prefers a sunny to semi-shady place.
Orange varieties
Teton
The Teton variety is a medium-sized variety with a height growth of around 3 meters with a moderate expansion in width of one and a half to 2 meters. Its branching is particularly dense, making it ideal for privacy protection.
It produces dark orange fruits from August onwards. Its white flowers appear from May to June. Their frost hardiness is good, as is their scab resistance.
Orange Charmer
This variety delights with its fiery orange fruits, which appear from September onwards. From May to June, the Orange Charmer blooms with small, lush panicles that smell pleasant.
The variety is particularly wide and bushy in growth. With a rather low height growth of 2 to 2 ½ meters, it expands up to 3 ½ meters in width. Like most varieties, it thrives best in the sun, but can also be placed in partial shade. It is scab and frost resistant.
Red varieties
Red Column
The Red Column shows a taut, upright growth with up to 1. It is very insensitive to frost and heat. Its rich, dense, white flower clusters appear in April and May, and the bright carmine-red fruits develop from September and can last until winter. It thrives best in a sunny location.
