Scarlet Firethorn

The scarlet firethorn is a thorny shrub and not a climbing plant, but is nevertheless suitable for façade greening. It delights with its white flowers and 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.

Latin: pyracantha coccinea

Firethorn "Orange Glow" with berry jewels

Requirements / Price

Scarlet Firethorn needs a sunny (full sun) location, or at least a position where it gets full daylight. 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.

"Orange Glow"
"Red Column"

Characteristics and Pruning

This is a rambler, seldom growing higher than 4 metres, with hanging shoots, that is often grown as a formed/shaped tree. Thorny and evergreen, it has white flowers in June, and- depending not the cultivar-yellow, orange, or red berries in winter which are loved by birds. Pruning in winter will promote branching. Firethorn is subject to fireblight. Firethorn seeds are slightly poisonous.

Climbing Aids for the Facade

Rods, grids, or wire rope trellises with a large grid spacing to hold the trunk and bind shoots. Refer to the table of suitable trellis designs at the bottom of the page; choose one from the medium or easy range.