The scarlet firethorn is a thorny shrub and not a climbing plant, but is nevertheless suitable for facade greening. It delights with its white flowers and abundance of colourful berries, and is also wintergreen. It can be planted as a bush to protect the base of a facade against graffiti or it can be trained into a desired shape with a trellis.
Pyracantha coccinea: scarlet firethorn, Eqyptian thorn, fire bush
Scarlet firethorn does best in a sunny (full sun) location, or at least a position where it gets full daylight. It can live in full or semi-shade but then produces fewer or hardly any flowers and fruit. Needs nutrient-rich and moist soils with good water retention. Distance between two plants: 2.5 - 4 metres.
Two cultivars are not available at the moment.
"Red Column"
This is a rambler native to China, the Himalayas, and southeastern Europe. Seldom growing higher than 4 metres, its hanging habit can be encouraged where desired, though it is often grown as a formed / shaped tree. Thorny and evergreen, it brings a profusion of small white flowers in June, and (depending on the cultivar) masses of yellow, orange, or red berries lasting into winter~ also a happy feast for birds. Pruning in winter will promote branching. Firethorn is subject to fireblight. The seeds are slightly poisonous.
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![]() | = suitable | ![]() | = sometimes suitable | ![]() | = not suitable |