Plant, cut and propagate Firethorn

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 during the cold season.

Of the Firethorn (Pyracantha) there are around ten different species that occur in different countries. The species that is widespread and planted in gardens is Mediterranean firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) called. 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 fire thorn 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 arranged alternately or 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 very popular at this time eaten by blackbirds and other birds because they are no longer so sour and hard due to the frost are.

The most beautiful firethorn varieties

Below we present 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 varieties ˈSoleil d'Orˈ and ˈRed Columnˈ are less susceptible to fire blight.

• Pyracantha coccinea ˈOrange Glowˈ: The firethorn ˈOrange Glowˈ, which was rated as good by the tree inspection, grows to a height of 250 to 350 cm and a width of up to 250 cm. 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 grows to 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 when the trees were inspected.

plant firethorn

Firethorn thrives best in a sunny location, but light penumbra 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 well suited for hedge and solitary planting, as well as topiary, bee pasture and bird feeder.
The best 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, a distance of about 1.50 m to other plants should be maintained.

Tip: The firethorn is ideal for protecting birds, as the thorns deter predators such as cats and martens from climbing to the nest.

Firethorn in the 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 to best protect firethorn in pot culture.

Firethorn care: pruning, fertilizing and more

If the evergreen shrub is in the right location, 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.

to water and fertilize

The firethorn only needs to be watered a little and the substrate can be rather dry. The plants can even withstand longer periods of drought, but they must be watered 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 either in the form of mature compost or organic fertilizer like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer, brought out. 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 guarantees that insects and birds will enjoy the flowers and fruit again in the coming year.

Firethorn not blooming: what to do?

Reasons for a lack of or little flowering can be, for example, a poor choice of location or too radical pruning. 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 cuttings 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, such as ours, for cuttings Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil. It does not collapse as quickly as peat 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 does not need any further protection in the cold season. However, it makes sense to shade the evergreen shrub in winter if it is not already in one shady place - because sunny winter days and subsequent frosty temperatures can cause problems for the foliage prepare. 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 bush in the bucket needs protection. 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?

Almost all parts of the firethorn plant are non-toxic, but still 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 fruit is boiled and the seeds are passed through a sieve and removed, the puree can be used excellently as a fruity-sweet spread.

If you are now even more interested in color in your garden, then you can read our article about colorful plants in winter continue to be inspired.