Pirakanta planting and care in the open field in the suburbs

Pyracantha is an ornamental shrub that grows in the southern regions of Europe and Asia. It is appreciated in landscape design for its decorative, abundant flowering. Forms caps of bright red, orange or yellow fruits. In the Moscow region, frost-resistant varieties are cultivated that can withstand temperatures down to -20 ° C.

They are used for hedges. Wide spreading crowns with thorns are excellent protection from uninvited guests. Pyracantha is grown singly or in groups. At home, in winter gardens, cascading or single-barreled bonsai are formed from thermophilic varieties.

Pyracantha - all the tricks of planting and leaving

Hello dear friends of my blog! We continue our acquaintance with the plants that we are happy to grow on the plots as amazing decorative elements. This year I purchased a wonderful novelty, and now I hasten to share with you the secrets of planting and growing it. I have no doubt that landing and caring for a pyracantha is quite simple and will also bring you many pleasant minutes of enjoying its unique look. If possible, be sure to get at least a bush, I assure you, it will be a great decoration!

Care rules

Planting a pyracantha and caring for it is not particularly difficult.

To do this, you need to pay attention to the following conditions:

• moderate watering;
• 1 top dressing every season;
• spring pruning and removal of berries.

It should be remembered that you need to work with this shrub in protective gloves, as sharp thorns grow on it.

You don't have to worry about watering the plant, because in nature it grows on rocky cliffs and slopes. In the spring, it is advisable to feed the pyracantha with mineral fertilizers and organic matter.

It is better to start the formation pruning of a crop in early spring, while it has not yet begun to actively develop. This procedure allows you to create very original forms, which is actively used by landscape designers. Sanitary pruning is also recommended in late summer to help freshen up the plant. There is no need to cover the pyracantha for the winter. Experts note that even severe frosts do not affect the cultivation of pyracantha.

This plant is often used to make bonsai. For this, young shoots are taken, because they can be given any shape. However, this must be done carefully, because the green twigs can break easily.

Getting to know the plant

Pyracantha is often used as a lonely decorative element in the garden, but the original picturesque hedge will also serve as a wonderful decoration. Since the plant has thorny sharp thorns, it will even help protect itself from unwanted guests on the site - neighboring geese or chickens.

Depending on the variety, the shrub grows from two to five meters in height. In width, some types of pyracantha can reach four meters!

Several plants will completely replace the fence, and it will look unique, because in the fall your hedge will be covered with abundant flowering, and in the fall - with beautiful red fruits. Of course, you cannot cook compote or jam from them, but admire as much as you like, because bright berries will almost overshadow all the leaves!

Pyracantha in landscape design

The main advantages of pyracantha are abundant, long flowering and bright, beautiful fruits.This plant is used to create a hedge, since the pyracantha not only grows beautifully and densely, but is also "equipped" with thorns that reliably protect the perimeter from uninvited guests.

The plant retains the brightness of leaves and berries even in deep winter, so unsightly walls and buildings are often decorated with pyracantas, but you should know that the plant itself will not curl and cling to the support, you will have to guide its shoots and fix them. Nevertheless, the pyracantha is ideal for vertical gardening.

Pyracantha is grown both as a solo plant and in small groups: it can be used to decorate rocky hills, arrange a border, it can be used as a background for mixborders. The pyracantha has one remarkable quality: it remembers its position relative to the support and, after the support is removed, continues to maintain its usual shape.

Bonsai are often formed from pyracantha, they are especially attractive in the form of a cascade or a tree with one or more trunks.

> House in the garden

How to choose the right place for a pyracantha

A remarkable feature of pyracantha is its unpretentiousness to the composition of the soil. It will calmly grow both on black soil and on sandstones. It is best if you place the plant in a small shade - the sun's rays will negatively affect the leaves, they will turn yellow and slightly deformed.

An ideal place for a pyracantha is in the open ground near outbuildings or between fruit trees, here she will not be disturbed by strong gusts of wind and drafts.

The bush feels great on small hills, but they don't like the lowlands, which will certainly affect growth and development.

Conditions for disembarkation

Pyracantha can grow in any soil. However, when growing it, it should be borne in mind that this culture does not take a transplant very well. The plant is more whimsical to the place of planting and lighting, because with a lack of light, its external attractiveness disappears, and under the open sun the leaves become faded. It is better to select the site for planting pyracantha in partial shade and with good protection from drafts.

The culture is completely unpretentious to the composition of the soil. She feels great even on lands saturated with lime impurities. Pyracantha loves highlands and plains. In no case should it be planted in the lowlands, otherwise the culture will often get sick and may even die.

You can plant seedlings immediately after thawing the soil after winter. The depth of the planting hole should be twice the clod of earth that is on the crop being planted. The bottom must be loosened well. The dug soil must be mixed with compost and placed back in the hole. The seedling is placed and sprinkled with soil residues.

Few landing secrets

It is best if you go with the purchased seedling to the garden in the spring. In the Moscow region, winter ends quite quickly, although it may save a few surprises in the form of late frosts for last. Wait for stable heat, only then plant your beauty.

Be sure to dig a hole more so that the root system is freely and freely located in it. Loosen the bottom a little, armed with a garden pitchfork. Mix the soil removed from the pit with compost, set the seedling and carefully cover with the prepared mixture, lightly tamp. I was not too lazy yet and dug a shallow ditch in a circle for irrigation - during the whole season I simply filled it with water, this was enough for irrigation.

It will not hurt to complete the planting with abundant watering with warm water and laying mulch. Rotted manure or compost is perfect as a ground cover - this will allow you not to exhaust yourself with fertilizing the plant throughout the year, the nutrients from the mulch are enough for good development.

Growing

This culture is simple both in terms of planting and in terms of choosing a seedling. It can grow on any type of soil, including even stony heaps, which are never used for cultivation. When choosing a landing site, it is recommended to exclude lowlands, in which cold air masses often accumulate. The best place for planting is considered to be partial shade, but a fence or wall of a house can be used as protection, which will protect the young plant from northern winds.

It can grow in sunny areas, but too hot weather can lead to burns on the foliage, which will turn yellow and begin to fall off. This will certainly affect the decorative qualities. Adult specimens are characterized by extreme drought tolerance, therefore they do not need frequent olives. But bait will never be superfluous.

Fertilizer use:

• if the plant was planted in the ground, then only those fertilizers and fertilizers that contain nitrogen-containing components are used. Submitted in April and July;
• caddy representatives of this culture. Mineral fertilizers are used for them, throughout May and August, every few weeks.

This type of plant does not like transplants extremely, after which various diseases often begin. Many factors should be considered when choosing a landing site, such as location safety, allergenicity and size. When trying to transplant an adult plant that is more than four years old, further death of the aboveground part of the bush and its root system is possible. When grown in containers, a mixture based on sand and turf soil is used as a soil.

Watering should be moderate and not too frequent. A deeper container can only be transplanted every three years. Shaping pruning is highly recommended as this will give the plant the correct shape. Some manage to make a masterpiece of topiary skill out of a bush.

A plant like pyracantha needs both formative and sanitary pruning.

The first time this is done in the spring, before the start of the growing season. At the same time, it will not be superfluous to understand the peculiar nature of this wild beauty, which requires all actions to be carried out in stages and very carefully.

How to care?

First of all, the remaining berries are removed, after which all uneven branches are cut off. Half of all new shoots can be safely removed. Pests are not afraid of her, largely due to the available 2.5 cm thorns. The rest of the growth can be removed immediately after flowering. In the fall, you can prune too long stems of this year. Rejuvenating procedures are needed only for adult bushes. In this case, we are talking about the partial removal of old shoots (leaving only 25-30 cm from the surface of the earth). After some time, you can remove the extra branches that appear from the ground.

Ease of care

If you don't like messing around with watering or winter covers, then the pyracantha is just a godsend for you. All she needs:

• moderate watering;
• rare pruning;
• removal of fruits;
• one top dressing per season.

Incredibly, this is quite enough so that in a few years the bush at home has grown to incredible sizes. Dry branches and berries should be removed in the fall, in the spring it will only be necessary to form a beautiful crown and cut off the shoots that have died during the winter. If the plant is too old, you can quickly rejuvenate it yourself by cutting off the entire aerial part before the onset of winter. With the arrival of spring, the bush will quickly release new, young shoots.

A little secret - if you want the plant to curl beautifully, even when planting, set up small supports, twisting them with branches as it grows.Pirakanta will quickly understand what is required of her and will continue to wind independently in the direction that you indicate to her.

You need to feed the beauty only once a year - in the spring. It is enough to add a little organic matter or complex fertilizers. You can use a long-lasting top dressing. Do not be lazy at least once a month to loosen the soil and remove weeds.

I can't say anything about pests and diseases - during the time that the pyracantha decorates my site, I did not observe them. I think that the plant is not attractive for insects, because the thorns do not allow to move freely along the shoots. If your plant has suffered from a disease, share with me and the readers, we will be very grateful.

There is no need to cover the pyracantha for the winter - it will perfectly withstand the most severe frosts. Even if a few branches are frozen, do not worry, they will quickly recover and start growing with the arrival of warmth. You can take a walk in the garden after heavy snowfalls - a heavy snow layer can damage the shoots, help the plant.

A wonderful plant to grow near your home, isn't it? The main thing is the simplest care, of which I was personally convinced. I bring to your attention a photo of pyracantha - a real beauty! Be sure to share with your friends fascinating material about the bush on social networks, even if their beauty grows. My last advice for today - subscribe to blog updates, numerous surprises await you on the pages. I say goodbye to you, all the best and all the best!

Pyracantha in literature [edit | edit code]

Firethorn is a bestselling fantasy novel by American writer Sarah Micklem (2004, ISBN 0-7432-4794-9). The heroine of the novel bears the name Firethorn. Among her other adventures is a hungry life in the mountains, where she eats poisonous pyracantha berries, but instead of death, a revelation and a special gift comes to her. The novel went through 5 editions in the USA and Great Britain. Firethorn is a direct English translation of the plant's Latin name. pyracantha

, which is borrowed from the Greek language and can be translated as a fiery thorn or thorn.

The spiny evergreen shrub Pyracantha is a member of the Rosaceae family. In nature, such a plant is found in the southern part of Europe and in Southeast Asia. The name "pyracantha" comes from a pair of Greek words translated as "fire" and "thorn". If you translate the name of this genus, you get a "thorny plant with fiery red fruits", or "fiery thorn". This genus unites 6-7 species. Such a shrub is cultivated as an ornamental plant, which is not resistant to frost. Only a few hybrid varieties of such a plant are able to withstand a drop in air temperature to minus 20 degrees.

Description of Pyracantha

Pyracanta belongs to the Pink family. The homeland of this evergreen shrub is Southeast Asia, although today Piracantu can be found in different parts of the world: in China, Taiwan, in southern Europe, at the foot of the Himalayas, in the Crimea. In its natural habitat, the shrub reaches large sizes - about 6 meters in height. It is often compared to such plants as hawthorn and cotoneaster.

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The branches of Pirakantha are covered with thorns, which, during the flowering of the shrub, hide under the flowers. Shoots can be both spreading and erect. The leaves are long - about 2.5 cm, oval, dark green in color.

The white-cream flowers of Pyracantha are small, they are collected in corymbose inflorescences. Flowering is abundant. Upon its completion, and this happens at the end of summer, bright red, yellow or orange berries appear on the bush, which remain on the branches in winter and are a real delicacy for thrush. As for their consumption by humans, because of bitterness, they are not in demand, although they do not pose a health hazard.

Types and varieties

In the temperate climate of the Moscow region, pyracantha of two varieties survives: narrow-leaved and bright red. In summer cottages, only cold-resistant varieties are cultivated. In winter gardens, apartments grow undersized varieties: crenate and scarlet pyracantha. These species do not differ in winter hardiness, they often freeze out.

Narrow-leaved pyracantha

The homeland of the evergreen shrub is the southwestern regions of China. There it grows up to 4 meters high. Narrow leaves up to 5 cm long come with a serrated and oval tip. Pubescence grayish, plaque-like. The caps of the inflorescences reach 8 cm in diameter. The berries are flattened, red or yellowish, firm, very bitter. Varieties of narrow-leaved pyracantha resistant to frost are presented in the table.

Variety name	Bush height, m	Description of berries
Orange Glow	2,5	Rounded, bright orange color, up to 7 mm in diameter.
Golden Charmer	3	Flattened, orange, up to 1 cm.

Bright red pyracantha

A sprawling bush with creeping branches, native to the subtropical forests of Asia Minor. It reaches 2 meters in height. Elliptical elongated leaves 4 cm long in the autumn period change color from rich green to bright red. Inflorescences are white or creamy pink. The fruits are coral or red, edible.

Variety name	Bush height, m	Description of berries
Red Column	3	Red, flattened, up to 6 mm in diameter.
Red Cash	2	Bright red, with a blunt tip, 4-6 cm in size.

Red Column left

Common types of Pyracantha

There are seven types of Pirakanta: Koizumi, Rogers, Toothed, South China, Dull-toothed, Bright red, Narrow-leaved. The last two types are the most popular among gardeners. Let's consider them in more detail.

* Pyracantha bright red... The plant is short. The height of the bush reaches a maximum of two meters. Spreading shoots, green leaves acquire a red color in autumn. The berries are bright orange in color. This species tolerates both drought and frost equally well.

* Pyracantha Narrow-leaved. With good care, the bush grows up to 3-4 meters in height. Flowering is abundant. Snow-white inflorescences envelop the shrub like an air cloud. In autumn, the bush is covered with bright orange berries.

Types [edit | edit code]

According to the GRIN website [3], the genus includes at least 6 species:

• Pyracantha angustifolia (Franch.) Schneid. - Narrow-leaved pyracantha. Grows in southwestern China.
• Pyracantha atalantioides (Hance) Stapf. Grows in southern China
• Pyracantha coccinea M. Roem. - Pirakanta scarlet. Distributed in Italy and Asia Minor.
• Pyracantha crenulata (D. Don) M. Roem. - Pyracantha crenate. Grows in the Himalayas
• Pyracantha koidzumii (Hayata) Rehder - Pyracantha Koizumi. Grows in Taiwan
• Pyracantha rogersianaBean. - Pyracantha Rogers. Found in Yunnan Province
• Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) Li [syn. Pyracantha crenatoserrata (Hance) Rehder]. Comes from Central China.

Growing methods of Pirakantha

You can grow Pyracantha both at home and in the open field. The plant propagates in two ways - vegetatively, that is, with the help of cuttings, and generatively - by seeds.

Cuttings. The most common way to grow Piracantha is by cuttings, as it allows you to preserve the varietal characteristics of the mother plant. As the experience of growing this plant shows, cuttings made from young shoots take root best.

The bottom of the branch is cleared of leaves, after which the cutting is placed in a container with water or in wet sand. The top is covered with a plastic bottle to make a kind of mini-greenhouse. Install in a warm place, but in such a way that direct sunlight does not fall on the planting material.

In about a month, the roots will appear. At this time, the cuttings should be regularly watered and sprayed a little. As they grow, watering increases, and when the capacity becomes small for the cutting, it will be necessary to transplant.

Thus, the material is grown throughout the year - after that it will be possible to plant it in open ground. To form a hedge, biennial specimens are suitable.

Growing by seeds... Sowing seeds can be done in autumn or spring. The seeds are collected from ripe berries.The optimal time to collect them is mid-autumn. They can be sown on the garden bed in late autumn. If sowing is carried out in the spring, then seed stratification must be carried out. If this method of growing Pirakanta is chosen, it must be borne in mind that it is not only more laborious, but also does not guarantee that you can get the same species (variety) as the parent plant.

Breeding pyracantha

In nature, the bush propagates by seeds; in temperate latitudes, cuttings are more often used. For breeding hybrids, seeds are not suitable, they are not able to inherit all species characteristics. A 20-centimeter stalk is cut from a two-year-old shoot in the upper third. It is kept in water until roots are formed, then transferred to the ground. The first year the seedling is grown at home or in a greenhouse, the roots may not withstand freezing.

Layers are made from adult bushes for reproduction: the young shoot is pinned to the ground. They are well insulated for the winter. A year later, it is separated.

Planting and caring for Pirakanta

The peculiarity of growing Pirakantha is that the plant can adapt to different soil, be it sandstone, limestone soil or rocky terrain. And yet, like most ornamental shrubs, Pirakantha prefers fertile soil rich in nutrients.

Attention! It is necessary to plant a bush immediately in a permanent place, since Pirakantha does not like transplants, it does not tolerate them well.

The site intended for growing this evergreen shrub must be protected from drafts and located in partial shade, since in the shade the bush loses its decorative effect, and direct sunlight can affect the color of the leaves.

Pyracantha looks beautiful in landscape design

In addition, it must be borne in mind that Pirakantha does not like lowlands, and therefore it should be planted on a hill or plain.

Saplings are planted in early spring, after the snow has melted. The depth of the planting hole should be about twice as large as the earthen lump with which the plant is planted. The bottom of the pit should be well loosened, and the excavated soil should be mixed with compost and laid out in a small layer. The seedling is set up and covered with the remaining soil.

Shrub care is minimal. It comes down to moderate watering, pruning shoots - this procedure will not only give a neat look to the shrub, but also allow you to get rid of dry branches. Pruning is carried out in the spring, until the bush has grown. At the same time, last year's berries remaining on the branches are removed. Sanitary pruning is best done in early fall.

Attention! When caring for a plant, remember that its shoots are covered with thorns that can sink into your hand, so it is best to work with heavy gloves.

In the spring, it is advisable to feed the plant with organic or complex mineral fertilizers.

As a rule, if you follow the rules for growing Piracantha, the plant does not undergo any diseases. It also does not need shelter for the winter period, since branches frozen in severe frost are very quickly restored.

Where to plant a pyracantha?

Pyracantha grows on completely different soil: it is not demanding on the composition of the earth, but it really does not like transplants.

Lighting and location

The pyracantha is more demanding to lighting and choosing a place, since the decorativeness of the plant is lost in the shade, and the color of its leaves suffers in sunny areas. Therefore, when planting this bush, it is necessary to choose a place protected from the winds and located in partial shade.

Plant soil

The plant is absolutely not demanding on the composition of the soil, it can grow even on calcareous soils.

Pyracantha: landing and leaving

Pyracantha is an ornamental evergreen shrub, loved by gardeners for its white-cream fragrant flowers, which are abundantly strewn in the spring, and shiny berries (yellow, red, orange) that stand out brightly against the autumn-winter background.Description of the plant Pirakantha, planting and caring for which is a real pleasure for many gardeners, originally from Southeast Asia, is widespread in Southern Europe, China, Taiwan, found at the foot of the Himalayas and in the Crimea. A representative of the Rosaceae family in natural conditions reaches 6 meters in height and looks very similar to a hawthorn and cotoneaster. Dark green oval leaves and sharp, long (up to 2.5 cm) thorns at the beginning of summer can completely hide under fragrant small flowers, united in corymbose inflorescences. At the end of summer, abundant flowering is replaced by the appearance of berries, colored in the tones of autumn and present on the branches almost until the end of winter. Birds, especially blackbirds, love to feast on the fruits of the pyracantha. Gardeners are of little interest in the autumn harvest because of the bitterness contained in the berries. Although for humans, the fruits of pyracantha are not dangerous.

Botanical description

A perennial, and under conditions of cultivation in warm climates - an evergreen plant, has oval-shaped leaves of a dark green color and sharp thorns reaching 2.5 cm in length. The bush blooms in spring very profusely: behind the white small flowers, not only branches, but also leaves are not visible.

On your site, you can grow other ornamental shrubs, for example, horizontal cotoneaster, broom, camellia, lilac, bean, rhododendron, wolfberry, scumpia, fieldfare.

Pyracantha flowers have an incredibly pleasant aroma and are distinguished by remarkable melliferous qualities. During the fruiting period, the shrub is covered with berries of yellow, orange or bright scarlet color. In regions with a temperate and cold climate, the pyracantha does not shed its leaves - they simply acquire a red color.

Pyracantha belongs to the genus Rosaceae and belongs to the Apple subfamily, so its fruits can be safely considered small apples. Translated from Greek, the name of the bush means "fire".

Did you know? The bush's middle name sounds like "thorn of fire." Only the opinion of why the plant is so called differs: some gardeners insist that the bush is called this because of the fiery red fruits that cover the bush throughout the autumn and winter period, and others - that because of the few thorns of the plant, the prick of which is very painful and burning.

Landing pyracantha

You can plant a pyracantha on any soil, it will absolutely calmly transfer even uncultivated soil. The place should be slightly shady, protected from the wind (near outbuildings). Direct exposure to sunlight will negatively affect the color of the leaves, they begin to turn yellow, and decorativeness will be lost in full shade. Planting a pyracantha is desirable on a plain or even on a hill, in the lowlands it develops poorly. Planted pyracantha in the spring, after thawing the soil. The depth of the planting pit is twice as large as the earthen lump, loosen the bottom before planting, mix the dug soil with a bucket of compost and lay it in a small layer in the pit. Then install the seedling and cover it with earth. Form a watering circle.

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Features of pyracantha

Pyracantha is a shrub that can be upright or spreading. In height, it can reach 6 meters, and outwardly it has a lot of similarities with certain types of cotoneaster. On the surface of the stems there are rare rather long thorns. Serrated leaf blades are evergreen. The corymbose inflorescences include white flowers. The fruit is a small berry-like apple of red or yellow color. Thanks to these fruits, this plant was previously part of the Yablonevye subfamily, but later it was moved to Spireyne.

The decorativeness of this shrub lies in the fact that it blooms luxuriantly and bears fruit abundantly. The lush blooming bushes are attractive to bees, and the fruits of this plant are pecked by birds.

Pyracantha care

If you don't like messing around with watering or winter covers, then the pyracantha is just a godsend for you. All she needs:

§ one top dressing per season.

Incredibly, this is quite enough so that in a few years the bush at home has grown to incredible sizes.

A little secret - if you want the plant to curl beautifully, even when planting, set up small supports, wrapping branches around them as it grows. Pirakanta will quickly understand what is required of her and will continue to wind independently in the direction that you indicate to her.

You need to feed the beauty only once a year - in the spring. It is enough to add a little organic matter or complex fertilizers. You can use a long-lasting top dressing. Do not be lazy at least once a month to loosen the soil and remove weeds.

There is no need to cover the pyracantha for the winter - it will perfectly withstand the most severe frosts. Even if a few branches are frozen, do not worry, they will quickly recover and start growing with the arrival of warmth. You can walk in the garden after heavy snowfalls - a heavy snow layer can damage the shoots, help the plant.

Seed propagation

It is better to plant culutra seeds in the middle of autumn. However, with the seed method of reproduction of the pyracantha, its varietal characteristics will disappear.

The seeds are located in the fruit of the plant and must be fully ripe before being harvested.

The most optimal time for this is October.

Pyracantha fruits need to be dried a little, and then the seed material must be removed from them. Seeds must be washed thoroughly and placed in a dark place to dry.

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They need to be sown at the end of autumn to a depth of 2.5-3 cm. It is recommended to prepare the beds 5-7 days before planting the seedlings. It is also necessary to add humus and top dressing to the soil in advance. The first shoots appear in spring. To make a beautiful hedge, it is best to select seedlings of the same size.

Of course, seeds can be planted in spring, but for this they must first be stratified. They are placed in a container with a moistened peat mixture and sent to the refrigerator for 3 months. During this time, it is necessary to maintain a moderate moisture content of the peat.

Pruning pyracantha

Pruning is an integral and important part of simple pyracantha maintenance. It is aimed at maximizing the preservation of the seasonal attractiveness of the plant. Pyracantha grows rapidly, in comfortable conditions it can grow aggressively, therefore, it requires an obligatory annual pruning. The best time for main pruning is in spring, before the next growing season. It is recommended to remove all berries preserved after winter before starting the procedure. Before flowering, no more than a third of the horizontal lateral branches can be removed, the rest are shortened when the plant has completely bloomed. At the end of summer, sanitary pruning is carried out, shortening unnecessarily long new stems. If the shape of the bush suits you completely, it is enough to simply maintain it by cutting off unnecessarily long, incorrectly oriented branches. Violent growth must be constantly restrained by forming a crown, cutting off overgrowing shoots. In the fall, it is recommended to slightly shorten the branches of the new growth. Old, overgrown bushes are renewed by cardinal pruning, leaving shoots no more than 30 cm from the ground. Thorny stems with long, sharp thorns make pruning difficult, so all pruning work must be done with gloves. In recent years, varieties have been bred that are practically devoid of thorns.

Growing with cuttings

Pyracantha can also propagate by cuttings.

This technique allows you to preserve all the maternal characteristics of the plant.

The tops of the branches left over from pruning in summer can also be rooted.

The strongest and healthiest stems are selected from the cut branches.

Their length should not be less than 20 cm.Then they need to be placed in a special solution. It is necessary to plant seedlings in moistened sand. For the plant to take root quickly, the cutting should be watered regularly and provided with a constant supply of fresh air.

After 3-5 weeks, the culture will fully take root. After another 2-3 months, the shrub will begin to grow. It needs to be grown in a greenhouse for about a year, after which it can be safely transplanted into open soil.

Diseases and pests pyracantha

I can't say anything about pests and diseases - during the time that the pyracantha decorates my site, I did not observe them. I think that the plant is not attractive for insects, because the thorns do not allow to move freely along the shoots. Pyracantha is resistant to existing pests and diseases. However, it can weaken if the growing conditions are not followed. In this case, the shrub becomes covered with aphids. The plant can also face a bacterial burn, but only some varieties of all species. Fungi can also become uninvited guests, especially late blight and scab.

Using [edit | edit code]

Pyracants are very popular as an ornamental crop in mild climates. The most cold-resistant varieties, derived from narrow-leaved pyracantha and scarlet pyracantha, withstand winters with minimum temperatures not lower than −20 ° C.

Pyracants are prized for their abundant flowering and equally abundant and colorful fruiting. They can be grown in single bushes, in groups, or as hedges. Pyracantha hedges are not only fancy, but they also reliably protect the garden thanks to their sharp thorns. Fences do not lose their decorative effect in winter, because they are covered with leaves and bright fruits all winter.

The dense foliage and abundance of berries make planting very attractive to birds. Pyracantha, like the cotoneaster, is a good honey plant.

In culture, pyracantha is uncomplicated, although thorny stems make pruning difficult. She tolerates different soils and partial shade. It can be grown from seeds or green cuttings. It grows fast enough.

It can be quite severely affected by a bacterial burn, but there are varieties that are resistant to this disease. Also sick with late blight and pyracantha scab (caused by the fungus Spilocaea pyracanthae).

Pyracants are also known as houseplants. At home, they need to create a cold wintering with a temperature close to 0 ° C or slightly higher. Bonsai are created from pyracantha.

Pyracantha fruits are inedible due to their bitter taste, but not poisonous.

Some well-known hybrids and varieties [edit | edit code]

• ‘America’
• ‘Firelight’
• 'Golden Charmer'
• ‘Golden Dome’
• ‘Lalandei’
• ‘Mohave’
• ‘Navajo’
• 'Orange Glow'
• 'Rosy Mantle'
• ‘Santa Cruz’
• ‘Soleil d’Or’
• 'Teton'
• 'Watereri'

Description

Thorny evergreen shrubs can be upright or spreading. They are distinguished by serrated dark green leaves, narrow or broadly oval, 5 cm long, retain their color all year round. Numerous shoots are covered with sparse elongated thorns. Small fragrant white flowers form corymbose inflorescences. Flowering begins in late spring, and is so abundant that leaves are completely hidden behind white-pink flower clouds.

Picaranta is a polygamous plant, so fruits can form on a single plant. Berry-like fruits of red color with different shades of yellow in structure are pome fruits. Due to their bitter taste, they are inedible, however, they are not poisonous. The berries acquire a bright color in the first days of autumn, keeping it on fully fruiting shrubs until the end of winter, attracting numerous birds.

Blooming pyracantha

Pyracantha is very popular in ornamental plantings in areas with a mild climate.Wild forms have little resemblance to garden ones, individual specimens in nature can reach more than 5 m.

Sapling selection rules

You can increase the number of pyracantha bushes on the site by purchasing seedlings from specialized garden nurseries.Such plants are adapted to local conditions and have a high survival rate.

To buy a healthy bush, you need to carefully examine it:

1. The branches and trunk should be healthy and resilient, with no signs of disease.
2. If the seedling is in a container, the soil looks fresh and free of mold.
3. The leaves on the seedling must be of the correct color, not curled, and not dry. It is worth inspecting them for pests.

It is better to buy planting material immediately before planting, or rather in the spring.

If planted in autumn, the plant may not have time to take root and will die from winter frosts.

Care and growing conditions for pyracantus

Pyracanta is an unpretentious plant. It is easy to grow as it acclimates easily under some planting and maintenance conditions. Make sure that the perennial is planted in rocky soil. Avoid low-lying areas where moisture stagnates and sunny places. The fire thorn plant thrives in partial shade. Direct sun burns and the foliage turns yellow (if large areas are affected, it falls off). But, there are more stable varieties - read about them above. If these conditions are met, we can say that we have completed half the battle, the rest is little.

Breeding pyracantha

There are three ways to breed pyracantha. The first is in the spring with seeds. Use purchased planting material. It can be collected from existing bushes. The seeds are stored in berries, and in winter they are stratified at low temperatures. Sow seeds in the spring as soon as the soil warms up

Please note that this method of reproduction does not preserve parental properties, and the pyracantha will bloom only after 3-4 years.

The second breeding method is cuttings. Use young, non-flowering shoots. They are rooted in the substrate and then transplanted to a permanent place in the garden. The third is layering. This process is no different from those that are needed when breeding other shrubs, for example, lilacs.

general information

Sunny flower Heliopsis perennial planting and care, photos, watering and pruning the bush, methods of reproduction and other nuances of growing a plant

Pyracantha is an evergreen perennial that is distinguished by its dark green oval leaves and pointed thorns. Their length can reach 2.5 m. In the spring months, the shrub begins to bloom very profusely. Behind the whitish flowers, you can't even see the foliage of the plant.

Pyracantha has a very pleasant smell. This is a great honey plant, so bees are often interested in it.

In cold and temperate climates, the culture does not shed its foliage - it simply takes on a red color.

It is noteworthy that the pyracantha is a representative of the Apple family, that is, its berries can be called miniature apples.

Application

Pyracantha looks smart all year round, so by planting it in your garden, you can admire it throughout all seasons. It looks great against the walls of a house and outbuildings, it can create a hedge or a solid wall near a summer gazebo. She needs a strong support or trellis.

She is beautiful both alone and in group plantings, in borders and pots. She is an excellent honey plant, so there will always be a lot of insect pollinators in your garden, and birds that adore the berries of the plant will simultaneously eat caterpillars and other pests that damage the crop.

Correct fertilization

Fertilize the plant with care. As a rule, pyracantha does not require frequent fertilization. In addition, nitrogen does not need to be used. It can do more harm than good. As a result, after the application of nitrogen fertilizers, leaves begin to develop, but at the same time, the formation of fruits is difficult and the plant can be vulnerable to diseases.

For these purposes, use a balanced composition in which nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are contained in the same amount, or those in which there is a little more than nitrogen in the composition of phosphorus and potassium.You need to fertilize the soil twice a year: once in early spring and the second time in late August.

Fertilizing on dry soil does not make sense. Therefore, pre-water the soil under the plant and only then scatter fertilizers on the wet soil. For one plant, it is enough to apply 15-20 g of each type of fertilizer. You can dilute the fertilizer in water (100 g per 10 liters). Under one bush, 0.5 liters are applied. such a solution.

How to care?

Pyracantha is a shrub that requires minimal attention:

• pruning in the spring with the accompanying removal of fruits;
• one top dressing per season;
• moderate watering.

Important! When working with a pyracantha, take care of your own safety and remember about painful pricks with thorns. Protect your hands with thick gloves.

Watering

Pyracantha is a drought tolerant plant. In nature, it is often found growing on sandy slopes and scree.

Top dressing

In the spring, the bush is fed by applying organic or mineral complex fertilizers. You can use feed in the form of granules - they are of a longer duration.

Pruning

Pyracantha grows very quickly, so the plant needs formative pruning to create its shape. The main pruning is done in early spring, when the pyracantha is not growing. When pruning it is necessary to remove the berries of the previous harvest.

Did you know? Pirakantu is very easy to shape, to create compositions that are interesting in shape. To do this, you need to tie the main branches to the support, and when the plant gets used to it, the support is removed, and the bush takes on the shape you need, which you just need to maintain by cutting off the branches growing in the wrong direction.

At the end of August, sanitary pruning is performed in order to rejuvenate the pyracantha.

Rules for preparing for the winter period

Almost all varieties of Pirakanta are frost-resistant and do not die at 25-degree frosts. This is mainly the case for the Bright Red Pyracantha and Narrow-leaved. It is better to cover heat-loving varieties for the winter. In order not to freeze the root system, it is necessary to cover the near-trunk circle with a large layer of fallen leaves.

Pirakantha houseplant care

If you live in northern latitudes, where in winter the temperature drops below -25 degrees, then you can grow Piracantu only in pots as a houseplant. There is no big difference between caring for a bush planted in open ground and in a pot. The main difference is the frequency of watering. The soil in the pot is moistened as it dries.

As for the transplant, it should be done once every three years, while using the transshipment method. This is necessary in order to keep the root system intact and safe.

Growing pyracantha using bonsai technique

In rooms and tub culture, the item is more common than others.

The container for room pyracantha is filled with a soil mixture of 2 parts of sod land and 1 part of sand. Water is moderately watered during the warm season, wintering is provided cold, only slightly above 0 degrees.

The plant is transplanted as needed at least 1 time in 3 years, but they use the method of transshipment from a smaller container to a large one, trying to disturb the roots less.

From the beginning of May to the end of August, fertilize every two weeks with complex mineral fertilizers.

Using various shaping haircuts, bonsai are created in all sorts of spectacular shapes.

Disease resistance

Pyracantha has good immunity and rarely gets sick. Aphids on a bush can appear if the rules of care are violated.

From diseases, a bacterial burn is possible, it practically cannot be cured. There are pyracantha varieties that are not susceptible to this disease.

If scab or late blight appears, the branches can be sprayed with a fungicidal agent. In the future, you should properly care for the plant, observing the requirements.

Pyracantha is used in landscape design as a hedge or a single decoration.If you plant a bush near a wall, you can twist it along a pre-installed support in the form of a lattice.

Photo gallery of views

Care and cultivation of pyracantha in the garden

In conditions of open ground in a temperate climate, two types are suitable - scarlet and narrow-leaved.

Pyracantha is undemanding to the composition of the soil, therefore, when choosing a place for it in the garden, only two conditions are adhered to - not to plant a shrub in the through wind and in a lowland where cold air accumulates in winter.

The plant grows well in the shade and in a bright place, but from the sun's rays the leaves often turn yellow and lose their decorative effect. Young specimens are watered in the heat, and adult specimens are quite drought-resistant and quite content with sedimentary moisture. Fertilized twice in April with nitrogen-containing preparations and 2 times in July with fertilizers with a predominant potassium-phosphorus component.

Pyracantha shoots are fast-growing, therefore, the bushes need annual pruning, which begins in early spring with the removal of last year's berries that were not eaten by birds during the winter. In the fall, sometimes it also does not interfere with shortening the branches of this year that have grown in length. During pruning, do not forget about long thorns, all work is performed in thick gloves that protect hands from pricks with sharp thorns.

Attention! An adult specimen practically does not tolerate transplants, there are cases of death of 4-year-old plants after moving to another place, therefore, when planting a bush, it is necessary to calculate all possible distances from the overgrown plant to the walls of houses, paths, and other inhabitants of the garden.

How does the plant winters?

The bush does not need shelter. Very often in our latitudes, with very strong frosts, some branches freeze slightly, but, as a rule, they recover very quickly. It has been noticed that even short-term frosts at -20 ° C, without the presence of snow, do not bring tangible harm to the plant.

Diseases and pests to which "pyracantha" berries are susceptible

Pyracantha has good immunity to diseases and parasites. Aphids are not a significant threat to the plant. It affects the plant in cases where the gardener does not properly care for the crop or violates the planting technique. As soon as you find signs of a parasite dominance, do not hesitate and immediately treat the shrub with an insecticidal solution. Aphids reproduce at an incredible rate and pose a direct threat to nearby bushes, in addition, they can be carriers of deadly diseases.

In addition to the aphids mentioned above, pyracantha is prone to bacterial burns, such a lesion is detrimental to the plant. For this reason, it is worth giving preference to those varieties that have a high immunity to this disease.

The list of threats includes fungal diseases such as scab or late blight. The causes of these diseases are inappropriate care or violation of the rules of agricultural technology for growing this crop. In the fight against infection, chemicals will help you.

Pyracantha or "Fire Thorn"

An ornamental plant pyracantha, which is impenetrable thorny shrubs in the wild. It has an excellent aesthetic appearance, contrasting color with bright foliage, is widely used as a bonsai. Moreover, it can be planted in brightly colored containers, which will further emphasize the magnificent image. This plant is very popular as an ornamental shrub crop in areas where the mild climate prevails. There are cold-resistant varieties, hybrids of narrow-leaved pyracantha and scarlet pyracantha, which withstand winters with temperatures down to -20 ° C. As a culture it is not difficult, >>>

only thorny stems make pruning very difficult. Groups of plants often form hedges, but can also be grown as single shrubs. Thanks to sharp thorns, such hedges reliably protect the surrounding areas, being at the same time an elegant decoration. Pirakantha feels great even in partial shade, tolerant to various soils. Grows quickly and can be grown from seeds or green cuttings.

Pyracantha hedge

Pyracantha (Latin Pyracantha M. Roem) belongs to the Rosaceae family, previously, due to its brightly colored apple-like berries, it also belonged to the Apple subfamily (Maloideae), but later it was assigned to the Spiraeoideae subfamily. Has a very attractive bright appearance. It is in nature perennial sprawling upright evergreen shrubs, reaching up to 6 m in height. Outwardly, it looks like some plant species of the genus Cotoneaster,

Cotoneaster

but it differs in the shoots, which are covered with sparse long thorns (up to 2.5 cm in length) and evergreen small toothed leaves. She is also a good honey plant, like a cotoneaster. For its bright berries, long thorns have the common name "Firethorn", which was given to her by the British.

In spring, the bushes are covered with fragrant white-cream flowers, collected in spectacular brushes, and in autumn they are covered with spectacular shiny round berries. Berry fruits vaguely resemble very small apples, have a very bright color: red, bright orange or yellow. Dense emerald foliage, juicy abundance of berries, very attractive to birds. For people, berries do not represent any nutritional value, since they taste bitter, it is good that they are not poisonous.

Blooming pyracantha

All winter this plant pleases with its gorgeous appearance, as it is completely covered with evergreen foliage, as well as shiny fruits throughout the winter period. Due to its unpretentiousness, bright appearance, it is loved by flower growers. It makes the most beautiful bonsai. Loves cold wintering with temperatures close to 0 ° С, or slightly higher.

This is what a pyracantha bonsai looks like:

General information:

Genus: Pyracantha (Pyracantha M. Roem).

Family: Rosaceae.

Subfamily: Spireae (Spiraeoideae).

Homeland (species are indicated in brackets):

• Himalayas (pyracantha crenate - P. (D. Don) M. Roem);
• Taiwan (pyracanta Koizumi - P. koidzumii (Hayata) Rehder);
• Southern Europe, Italy and Asia Minor (pyracantha scarlet - P. coccinea M. Roem);
• Southwestern China, Asia (P. angustifolia (Franch) Schneid);
• Central China (P. fortuneana (Maxim) Li (P. crenatiserrata (Hance) Rehder));
• Yunnan Province - China (P. rogersiana Bean);
• Southern China (P. atalantioides (Hance) Stapf).

Pests and diseases:

A red tick appears if during wintering the plant was deprived of moisture in sufficient quantity, the air was dry. Aphids can appear on young shoots in early spring. Fungal diseases can occur if the shrub is poured, located in poorly ventilated and poorly lit places. If the variety is unstable, it can be severely affected by fire blight, scab (caused by the fungus Spilocaea pyracanthae) and late blight. It is necessary to take timely measures aimed at preventing these ailments, to adhere to the correct care for the pyracantha.

The following varieties and hybrids of this beautiful plant are known: "America"; Soleild'Or, GoldenCharmer, RosyMantle, Firelight, SantaCruz, OrangeGlow, GoldenDome, Lalandei, Navajo, Mohave, Teton, Watereri.

Caring for pyracantha during the growing season:

The plant is quite unpretentious, easily adapts to any growing conditions. In hot months, it needs good watering, likes sunny areas. Watering must be treated with special attention, since the plant does not like waterlogging as well as lack of moisture, especially during the flowering period. For this purpose, it is necessary to use light substrates, with good drainage, rich in organic matter. A deep container is used for cultivation. To prolong the abundant flowering, the pyracantha should be kept in a dry place well-lit by the sun. For the quick distillation of flower stalks in the spring, special fertilizers are used, in the fall they also apply top dressing, but of a longer action. Every two years, the soil should be renewed by transplanting. In this case, part of the substrate must necessarily remain on the roots.

Caring for the appearance of pyracantha bonsai:

The regulation of the growth of new shoots to slow it down is to remove young shoots in a still undeveloped state in autumn and summer. The branches are unaesthetic in appearance, they are cut off immediately after harvesting the berries.Due to the fact that the plant is evergreen, from time to time damaged leaves that begin to dry appear, immediately after they appear or fall off, they should be removed. To prevent the plant from depleting during fruiting, some berries are removed before they are fully ripe. Wire technology is used to form the style. Wire wrapping is carried out on not yet lignified branches of young shrubs to change the direction of their growth.

Most Suitable Firethorn Bonsai Styles:

Interesting Facts:

In 2004, a novel by Sarah Micklem, an American science fiction writer, entitled "Firethorn" was released. This is the name of the heroine of the novel, whose life is difficult and partly passes in the mountains, where she eats the supposedly poisonous berries of the pyracantha plant from hunger, but does not die, but receives a special gift and revelations. The novel was reprinted as many as 5 times in the UK and the USA. As we already know from the above, Firethorn means "Fire thorn", this is a direct translation of pyracantha from Latin into English, and although the berries are bitter, they are not poisonous.

This news is now being discussed ...

Plant characteristic

This shrub can be grown as a straight-growing plant, or it can be made spreading, it all depends on the variety. Outwardly, it looks like some types of cotoneaster. The pyracantha grows in height up to 6 meters. All stems are covered with sparse but long thorns, 2.5 cm long. It is an evergreen plant with serrated leaves. Inflorescences of pyracantha are white and dense. After flowering, red or yellow berries appear that look like an apple.

The decorative feature of the shrub is precisely in its abundant flowering and fruiting. The winter hardiness of the plant depends on the variety, those that are cultivated in Russia are more resistant to frost.

Spread

Pyracantha is found in its natural environment in the south and east of Asia. In addition, the evergreen culture can be found in the southern regions of Europe. For decorative purposes, the plant is used in the southern regions of Russia. The culture is widespread in Kazan, Sochi and the Crimean coast.

Pyracantha grows naturally in warm and temperate climates. The plant prefers a warm, arid climate with a lot of air humidity. Wild shrubs live in the forest zone, along the edges of fences. You can meet shrubs along the edges of clearings and light forests. In the decorative art, pyracantha is used to create hedges.

Bonsai from Pyracantha. Growing rules

There are varieties of Pyracantha that look best in indoor plant pots. Bonsai are made from such crops in the form of upright plants and cascades. After purchasing a seedling for these purposes, it is placed for a couple of days in a cool and dark place. This is how it adapts. A deep container is selected as a bonsai, at the bottom of which drainage is laid. If you choose a small container and do not take care of the drainage layer, then the root system of the bush will be constantly in the irrigation water, which will negatively affect its development. The plant can also be affected by all kinds of pests.

If a decision is made to grow Piracantu in a flower pot, then it is necessary to create certain conditions for its development. The room should be constantly light. An important condition is the availability of fresh air, which is obtained as a result of constant ventilation. In winter, Bonsai can be taken to a place where the temperature will fluctuate from -2 to +8 degrees. But there should be no severe frost. In a pot, Bright Red Pyracantha grows and develops excellently.

Brief description of the plant

The natural habitat of Pirakantha is Southeast Asia and southern Europe. The name itself says a lot. From the Greek language, the literal translation looks like "fire" and "thorn". There are few species of this plant, only 7.Almost all are used to decorate free space. But the cultivation of the Fire Thorn in the open field is possible only in those regions where the air temperature does not drop below -20 degrees.

It is a perennial evergreen subshrub or shrub. Feels good in the warm climate, which is inherent in the Crimean peninsula. When grown in temperate latitudes, a perennial plant is obtained. It can be observed in the Caucasus on the hills and slopes, where the sun's rays constantly fall, as well as in valleys and ravines.

Pyracantha never sheds leaves, even at low temperatures that are uncomfortable for her. They remain on the branches during the winter, but change their shade from green to red. The form of the shrub is spreading or upright. It depends on the type of plant. Under natural conditions, the Fire Thorn can grow up to 6 meters in height, but cultivated specimens can only reach a height of 2 to 4 meters. Shrubs do not grow much in width, so often amateur gardeners use them to create a hedge.

The shrub has a lot of shoots, branching, covered with gray bark and very long thorns. There are not many thorns, they are located at a considerable distance from each other. Their length can be from 2 to 2.5 centimeters.

The leaves are not large in size, have an oblong or oval shape, the edges are slightly serrate. In the warm season - a dark green hue, with a decrease in temperature they turn red. The shrub blooms for a fairly long time: from spring until the first frost appears. There are a lot of flowers. Small, creamy white, gathered in panicles. Flowers exude a sugary sweetish aroma.

As soon as the inflorescences fade, many berries of various colors appear on Pirakant: yellow, orange, red. There are so many of them that they fill the entire plant with themselves. The berries in their appearance resemble rowan berries, they also flaunt on large brushes. If you carefully consider each berry, you can find similarities with apples, only their miniature sizes. Pirakantha berries are not used for food. It tastes a little bitter. But for birds, it's a great treat.

Pyracantha is resistant to frost, feels good on frosty days, when the temperature drops to -20 degrees. If the temperature drops below this indicator, then the shrub should be covered. The fire thorn does not require special care, it is not afraid of diseases and pests.

TAKES DIFFERENT FORMS

Pyracantha lends itself well to formative pruning, so it has become a common object for creating various elements of a shaped garden and nivaka. It is suitable for creating palmettes, wireframe and frameless shapes. It is adorned with unsightly walls of buildings, masking fences, retaining walls and steep rocky slopes.

When shaping, pruned branches can be used in floristic compositions.

Reproduction

You can grow pyracantha from seeds, green cuttings. Young shoots grow confidently and quickly enough.

To grow pyracanthus from seeds, they are planted in the fall, before winter. In the case of spring sowing, the seeds need cold stratification. Seed propagation does not preserve the characteristics of the variety; it is used in the cultivation of natural species.

As cuttings, you can use the branches obtained as a result of pruning. Propagation of pyracantha by cuttings allows propagation of highly decorative varieties while maintaining the characteristics of the parent plant. It is preferable to use young green petioles, in contrast to lignified counterparts, they take root much easier. Petioles are freed from leaves in the lower part, placed in water, liquid substrate, wet sand, creating greenhouse conditions, with obligatory shading.The first roots appear within three weeks; care during this period is limited to regular watering of the substrate and spraying.

The growth appears after a couple of months, the next year young plants can be identified for a permanent place of growth. To create a hedge, two-year-old seedlings are used, which are placed sequentially with a distance between the specimens up to half a meter. After three years, the bushes grow fully.

Saplings pyracantha

Pruning the plant to shape the bushes

You can prune shrubs at any time of the year, but many gardeners prefer to do this in mid-spring, late autumn or early winter. You need to wait until the plant finishes flowering, and then remove the new processes. You need to trim it in such a way as to leave at least a few flowers. Keep in mind that the plant usually grows up to one year of age. Regardless of the pruning period, do not remove more than one third of the plant.

Pyracantha fruits ripen in autumn. It is advisable to then remove them from the bush to prevent the process of decay.

Leaves and branches are selectively pruned in the fall to accentuate the vibrant color of the berries.