'Fiery Cascade' Small, glossy leaves and orange red
fruit. Firethorn Care 'Golden Charmer' Vigorous, arching habit. Fine toothed leaves. Larger, yellow-orange fruits. Sheet 'Golden Dome' Mounding habit. Deep yellow fruit. 'Harlequin' Variegated with pink flushed leaves and white margin. ' M o h a v e ' d e n se habit. Masses of bright orange-red fruit. 'Orange Charmer' Long lasting orange- red berries. 'Orange Glow' D e n se , vi g o r o u s growth. Orange red fruits that persist into winter. 'Red Elf' or 'Monelf' Low growing mounding habit. Dense foliage. Bright red berries. 'Shawnee' dense branched, spreading at base. Yel- low to light orange fruit. 'Sparkler' Variegated with mottled white leaves that turn pink tinged in autumn. More frost tender. 'Watereri' compact, vigorous growth. Bright red fruit. Brought to you by S & S Bonsai of Colorado Springs, Colorado (Most of the included information is obtained from several online sources.)
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if
you were to live forever.” —Mahatma Gandhi— The Firethorn Fertilizing: From early spring to early summer feed will start to coil dramatically, with no new root with high nitrogen fertilizer, then switch to low hairs. Drastic pruning would be needed then to nitrogen fertilizer to promote flowering and fruit- retain a healthy root ball. (Pyracantha sp.) ing. Soil: More inorganic than organic. Very well drain- General Information: A small genus of thorny ever- Pruning / Training: Firethorn tolerate heavy prun- ing medium. green shrubs (up to 20 feet tall) in the rose family ing easily. Prune new growth down to two or three Design and Styling: Often seen with cascade native to east to southeast Asia and southeast leaves in early summer. Flower buds occur at the forms, Pyracantha are also suitable for informal Europe. They resemble and are related to Cotone- tips of mature short branches, so if you want flow- upright forms with single or multiple trunks and aster. Firethorn is favored for their year-round foli- ers and fruit (one of the main draws of a Firethorn group planting. Suitable for all sizes. age, their abundant flowering capabilities and for bonsai), in late autumn shorten long new growth their numerous fruit in autumn. The name Fire- down to two or three nodes, to focus the energy in thorn is derived from the fiery berry color and very and keep the current shape in better check when Pyracantha has several cultivars: sharp 1” long thorns that are carried on branches. flowering comes around. Firethorn will grow new Thorns may become future branches. branches from new thorns, so, though they may be P. crenulata: Nepal or Himalayan Firethorn: Vase a nuisance while you work, do not remove these! form and strong, very sharp thorns. Leaves have Foliage: Leaves are narrowly ovate, green to dark notched margins, new growth rust colored, dark green, some are narrow, some toothed. They will eventually flower and fruit for you! Due to the nature of formative pruning, flowers and red berries. Zone 7. Flower/ fruit: Flowers are typically white and are berries will often be sacrificed in the first few years P. coccinea: Scarlet or European Firethorn: leaves born in corymbs in mid-summer. The spherical ber- of growth in lieu of focusing on basic branching and are toothed, ovate to lance shaped, new growth is ries (pomes) start out green and by August/ secondary branching concerns. fine and downy, scarlet berries. Zone 5. September turn yellow, red or orange depending on the species. Wire new branches early, before they get too in- P. angustifolia: Orange Firethorn: leaves are dark flexible. Older branches are stiff and can be hard to green with grey fuzz on the underside, berries are CARE move. Care must be taken when wiring as branches yellow to deep orange. Zone 7. as young as 2 years old can be brittle. New shoots Temperature: Zones 5-7, depending on the species. P. atalantioides: Chinese Firethorn. Vase shaped on Pyracantha's respond well to wiring but growth Winter protection required, especially from dry habit. Broad, elliptical or oval leaves in a dark, that has already hardened off can take a long time winds. Pyracantha's as a rule need winter protec- glossy green. Crimson berries. Zone 7. to set into a new position. tion. P. augustifolia varieties are regarded by some P. crenatoserrata or P. fortuneana: Yunnan Fire- as indoor varieties during the Winter as they will As an evergreen, Pyracantha's still replace old thorn. Egg shaped or lance shaped leaves with a not tolerate temperatures below 35 to 40°F. Inside, leaves with new over the growing season. Individ- rounded tip, shallowly toothed. Orange fruit that trees should be kept in a cool, unheated environ- ual old leaves will occasionally be seen to turn yel- will occasionally ripen to red. Zone 6. ment. P. coccinea varieties are more frost resistant low before dropping but are soon replaced with and should be kept outside if possible, though pro- new growth. P. koidzumii: Taiwan Firethorn. Many branching tection against temperatures below around 41°F species. Young growth has reddish, downy cover- Insects / Pests: Fireblight. Spider mites, scale, should be given. Also protect against strong freez- ing that can turn purple with age. Leaves are dark aphids, caterpillars and leaf miners. ing winds. green and glossy, paler on the underside. Loose Propagation: Seeds. Remove seeds from fruit and clusters of variable colored berries, though often Lighting: Full sun. Protect from hot, midday sun in soak overnight before sowing. Sow seed outside in orange-red. Zone 7. summer. Autumn. Root semi-ripe cuttings or air layering in P. rogersiana: Roger's Firethorn. Broad, rounded Watering: Firethorn tolerate slightly drier condi- Summer. habit. Midgreen, glossy leaves. Mostly flowers tions, but never allow to dry out completely. Water Repotting: Every two years, in early spring. Pyra- from previous year's wood. Yellow to orange-red generously during flowering and fruiting for best cantha's resent repeated root-disturbance so try berries. 'Flava' cultivar with yellow berries. results. Make sure you have very good drainage. not to repot annually. Wait too long and the roots