Pyracantha Red Column 10L

Description

Pyracantha ‘Red Column’ – firethorn

Botanical name: Pyracantha ‘Red Column’
Common names: Firethorn
Family: Rosaceae (rose family)
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Habit: Upright, dense, thorny
Pot size: 10 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 2.5–3m tall × 2m spread; readily trained or kept smaller
Foliage: Small, glossy, dark green leaves on thorny stems; evergreen
Flowers: Clusters of small creamy-white flowers in early summer, followed by masses of bright red berries from autumn into winter (May–June flowers; berries autumn–winter)
Scent: Flowers lightly scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Most soils; well-drained; tolerant; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy, to about −20°C); USDA zones 6–9
Exposure: Sheltered or exposed; very tolerant
Native range: Garden hybrid; the genus is native to south-east Europe and Asia
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Low toxicity; the berries may cause mild stomach upset if eaten in quantity; note the sharp thorns

Pyracantha ‘Red Column’ is a tough, thorny evergreen with creamy early-summer flowers and masses of bright red autumn berries. Superb as a wall shrub, security hedge and wildlife plant, and excellent for birds.

GardenAdvice notes

A tough, adaptable evergreen, firethorn earns its place with a fine froth of creamy flowers in early summer followed by an abundant, long-lasting display of bright red berries from autumn into winter. Its dense, thorny growth makes it excellent for training against a wall, for an intruder-deterring security hedge, and for wildlife — the flowers feed pollinators and the berries feed birds. ‘Red Column’ is a strongly upright form, ideal for narrow spaces and wall training.

Growing & planting

Plant in autumn or spring in most well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade — it is very tolerant, and berries well even on a shady wall. Provide wires or a support if training against a wall or fence. Wear stout gloves when handling, as the thorns are sharp. Space about 60cm apart for a hedge. Water well while establishing.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. If wall-trained or hedged, trim after flowering, taking care to preserve as much of the developing berry-bearing wood as possible; over-clipping removes the berries. Tie in new growth on wall-trained plants. It tolerates hard pruning and renovation. Wear gloves and eye protection when pruning, due to the thorns.

Propagation

• Cuttings: Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

Pests & diseases

Generally tough, though pyracantha scab and fireblight can affect it in some areas — ‘Red Column’ and similar modern selections have good disease resistance. Otherwise reliable and hardy.

Uses in the garden

Superb trained against walls and fences (including shady ones), as a dense, secure, intruder-deterring boundary hedge, and as a wildlife shrub; the upright habit suits narrow spaces.

Wildlife value

Excellent for wildlife: the early-summer flowers are rich in nectar for bees and pollinators, the autumn berries are a valuable food source for blackbirds, thrushes and other birds, and the dense thorny growth offers superb protected nesting sites.

Toxicity & safety

Firethorn has a low level of toxicity: the berries may cause mild stomach upset if eaten in quantity, though they are readily eaten by birds. Note the sharp thorns, and site it with care where people brush past.

GardenAdvice tip

Firethorn is a real multi-tasker — flowers for the bees, a long-lasting blaze of berries for the birds, and thorns that make an unbeatable security hedge under a window or along a boundary. The one pruning tip that matters: trim after flowering and go easy, as the berries form on older wood, so over-enthusiastic clipping cuts off your autumn display. And always wear stout gloves — those thorns are fierce.

Our plants are guaranteed for 24 months for more details Click Here