Pyracantha
Encyclopedia
Pyracantha is a genus of thorny evergreen
large shrub
s in the family Rosaceae
, with common names Firethorn or Pyracantha. They are native to an area extending from Southeast Europe
east to Southeast Asia
, resemble and are related to Cotoneaster
, but have serrated leaf margins and numerous thorns (Cotoneaster is thornless).
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The plants reach up to six metres tall. The seven species have white flower
s and either red, orange, or yellow berries (more correctly pome
s). The flowers are produced during late spring and early summer; the pomes develop from late summer, and mature in late autumn.
Species:
Selected hybrids and cultivar
s
s, grown in garden
s for their decorative flowers and fruit
, often very densely borne. Their dense thorny structure makes them particularly valued in situations where an impenetrable barrier is required. The aesthetic characteristics of pyracanthas plants, in conjunction with their home security qualities, makes them a considerable alternative to artificial fence
s and wall
s.
They are also a good shrub for a wildlife garden, providing dense cover for roosting and nesting birds, summer flowers for bees and an abundance of berries as a food source. Pyracantha berries are not poisonous as commonly thought; although they are very bitter, they are edible when cooked and are sometimes made into jelly. In the UK and Ireland
Pyracantha and the related genus
Cotoneaster
are valuable sources of nectar when often the bees have little other forage
during the June Gap
.
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
large shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s in the family Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae are a medium-sized family of flowering plants, including about 2830 species in 95 genera. The name is derived from the type genus Rosa. Among the largest genera are Alchemilla , Sorbus , Crataegus , Cotoneaster , and Rubus...
, with common names Firethorn or Pyracantha. They are native to an area extending from Southeast Europe
Southeast Europe
Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe is a relatively recent political designation for the states of the Balkans. Writers such as Maria Todorova and Vesna Goldsworthy have suggested the use of the term Southeastern Europe to replace the word Balkans for the region, to minimize potential...
east to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, resemble and are related to Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster is a genus of woody plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to the Palaearctic region , with a strong concentration of diversity in the genus in the mountains of southwestern China and the Himalayas...
, but have serrated leaf margins and numerous thorns (Cotoneaster is thornless).
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s and either red, orange, or yellow berries (more correctly pome
Pome
In botany, a pome is a type of fruit produced by flowering plants in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae.A pome is an accessory fruit composed of one or more carpels surrounded by accessory tissue...
s). The flowers are produced during late spring and early summer; the pomes develop from late summer, and mature in late autumn.
Species:
- Pyracantha angustifoliaPyracantha angustifoliaPyracantha angustifolia is a species of shrub in the rose family known by the common name narrowleaf firethorn. The flowers are white and produce small round pomes and can be orange to red in color. These fruits are astringent and bitter, making them inedible for humans, but they are a food source...
. Southwest ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. - Pyracantha atalantioides. Southern ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. - Pyracantha coccineaPyracantha coccineaPyracantha coccinea is the European species of Firethorn that has been cultivated in gardens since the late 16th century. The tree has small white flowers. It produces small, bright red berries. The fruit is bitter and astringent, making it inedible when raw. The fruit can be cooked to make...
(Scarlet firethorn). ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
east to Asia MinorAsia MinorAsia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
. - Pyracantha crenatoserrataPyracantha crenatoserrataPyracantha crenatoserrata is a species of Firethorn. It is a short shrub. It is cultivated for its decorative bright red pome fruit . The flowers are white. It survives in warm climates. It cannot tolerate frost, but it can withstand drought. This species originates from central China.-References...
. Central ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. - Pyracantha crenulataPyracantha crenulataPyracantha crenulata is a species of Firethorn. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. The leaves are used to make herbal tea. The wood can be use to make walking sticks. The pome fruit is orange-red and are food for birds....
. Himalaya. - Pyracantha koidzumiiPyracantha koidzumiiPyracantha koidzumii is a species of plant in the Rosaceae family. It is endemic to Taiwan. It is threatened by habitat loss....
. TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. - Pyracantha rogersianaPyracantha rogersianaPyracantha rogersiana is species of Firethorn shrub. It is grown in gardens, yards, and parks for its golden-yellow or golden-orange berries. The seeds are poisonous if ingested and may result in vomiting. It can be grown as a hedge....
. YunnanYunnanYunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
.
Selected hybrids and cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s
- 'America'
- 'Firelight'
- 'Golden Charmer'
- 'Golden Dome'
- 'Lalandei'
- 'Mohave'
- 'Navajo'
- 'Orange Glow'
- 'Rosy Mantle'
- 'Santa Cruz'
- 'Soleil d'Or'
- 'Teton'
- 'Watereri'
Uses
Pyracanthas are valuable ornamental plantOrnamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
s, grown in garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s for their decorative flowers and fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
, often very densely borne. Their dense thorny structure makes them particularly valued in situations where an impenetrable barrier is required. The aesthetic characteristics of pyracanthas plants, in conjunction with their home security qualities, makes them a considerable alternative to artificial fence
Fence
A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary. It is generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction: a wall is usually restricted to such barriers made from solid brick or concrete, blocking vision as well as passage .Fences...
s and wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
s.
They are also a good shrub for a wildlife garden, providing dense cover for roosting and nesting birds, summer flowers for bees and an abundance of berries as a food source. Pyracantha berries are not poisonous as commonly thought; although they are very bitter, they are edible when cooked and are sometimes made into jelly. In the UK and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Pyracantha and the related genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster is a genus of woody plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to the Palaearctic region , with a strong concentration of diversity in the genus in the mountains of southwestern China and the Himalayas...
are valuable sources of nectar when often the bees have little other forage
Forage (honeybee)
For bees, their forage or food supply consists of nectar and pollen from blooming plants within flight range. The forage sources for honey bees are an important consideration for beekeepers. In order to determine where to locate hives for maximum honey production and brood one must consider the...
during the June Gap
June Gap
The June Gap refers to a dearth of nectar forage for bees in June in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The June Gap is important because typically, the number of bees and hence energy requirement in the colony has built up significantly by the time the dearth occurs.Some plants which can help provide...
.