Xela's Garden
Firethorn [V]
Genus: Pyracantha.
Species: Pyracantha koidzumii 'Victory'[replaced angustifolia 'Mohave' ?].
Planted 03.09 Vistabile kitchen wall (west facing)
'Victory' replacement 05.11
Bought 03.09 at Morrisons for £1.79
05.11 at Morrisons for £2.00
Evergreen Pyracantha is a shrub available in many varieties, firethorns have large clusters of white flowers in spring followed by
autumn berries in various shades from deep red through brighter reds and orange to yellow. The berries are borne in large quantities in autumn.
They can be grown as a specimen plant, as part of a mixed border, or more commonly as a wall shrub or informal hedging plant. All varieties have large strong thorns which make them excellent security barriers. They are good for wildlife, blackbirds have nested in mine for several years secure in the knowledge that no sane cat would dare try and climb towards them, and also for the berries, blackbirds again love them.
For a particularly informal hedge, different varieties can be mixed, and they can also be mixed with barberry, Berberis, or roses without sacrificing the deterrent barrier effect.
Position: full sun or partial shade, don't like frosty places in conjunction with cold drying winds
Soil: generally unfussy
Rate of growth: medium
Other Features: easily trainable, against a wall or fence, simply trim back any shoots that are sticking out too far.
Hardiness: fully hardy, not suitable for very exposed positions
Uses - Specimen / Hedging / Architectural / mixed border
Prune in mid spring or late summer. For specimens and wall shrubs, aim to establish a permanent network of branches and cut back any wayward growths that come out. More flexible young shoots can be tied back against a support while they are still pliable, as they age and become more woody, they will "set" into the desired shape. Can be renovated usually with success by cutting back to within 30cm, 12" of ground level, though this tends to make them more susceptible to the bacterial disease fireblight.
Photos of this plant
Reminders for this plant
Due almost 16 years ago:
Prune
Spring pruning concentrates on cutting back outward growing shoots and shortening other growth. This will remove some of the flowering wood, but this can be limited by waiting until the flower buds appear.
Prune
Summer pruning simply involves shortening the new growth to two or three leaves beyond the fruit clusters to expose the developing berries to the ripening effect of the sun.
Due about 15 years ago:
Prune
Spring pruning concentrates on cutting back outward growing shoots and shortening other growth. This will remove some of the flowering wood, but this can be limited by waiting until the flower buds appear.
Prune
Prune in mid spring or late summer. For specimens and wall shrubs, aim to establish a permanent network of branches and cut back any wayward growths that come out. More flexible young shoots can be tied back against a support while they are still pliable, as they age and become more woody, they will "set" into the desired shape.
Due almost 15 years ago:
Prune
Summer pruning simply involves shortening the new growth to two or three leaves beyond the fruit clusters to expose the developing berries to the ripening effect of the sun.
Due about 14 years ago:
Prune
Spring pruning concentrates on cutting back outward growing shoots and shortening other growth. This will remove some of the flowering wood, but this can be limited by waiting until the flower buds appear.
Prune
Prune in mid spring or late summer. For specimens and wall shrubs, aim to establish a permanent network of branches and cut back any wayward growths that come out. More flexible young shoots can be tied back against a support while they are still pliable, as they age and become more woody, they will "set" into the desired shape.
Due about 13 years ago:
Prune
Spring pruning concentrates on cutting back outward growing shoots and shortening other growth. This will remove some of the flowering wood, but this can be limited by waiting until the flower buds appear.
Prune
Prune in MID SPRING or late summer. For specimens and wall shrubs, aim to establish a permanent network of branches and cut back any wayward growths that come out. More flexible young shoots can be tied back against a support while they are still pliable, as they age and become more woody, they will "set" into the desired shape.
Due almost 13 years ago:
Prune
Summer pruning simply involves shortening the new growth to two or three leaves beyond the fruit clusters to expose the developing berries to the ripening effect of the sun.
Due over 12 years ago:
Prune
Prune in mid spring or LATE SUMMER. For specimens and wall shrubs, aim to establish a permanent network of branches and cut back any wayward growths that come out. More flexible young shoots can be tied back against a support while they are still pliable, as they age and become more woody, they will "set" into the desired shape.
Due about 11 years ago:
Prune
Spring pruning concentrates on cutting back outward growing shoots and shortening other growth. This will remove some of the flowering wood, but this can be limited by waiting until the flower buds appear.
Prune
Prune in MID SPRING or late summer. For specimens and wall shrubs, aim to establish a permanent network of branches and cut back any wayward growths that come out. More flexible young shoots can be tied back against a support while they are still pliable, as they age and become more woody, they will "set" into the desired shape.
Due over 10 years ago:
Prune
Prune in mid spring or LATE SUMMER .... see previous notes.
