Firethorn, Featured Plant of The Day

Pyracantha koidzumii 'Santa Cruz'

Firethorn, Pyracantha

Type Shrub, groundcover, woody plant

Hardy range 7A to 10A

Height 24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm

Spread 5' to 10' / 1.60m to 3.00m

Growth rate Fast

Form Prostrate and spreading or horizontal

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Evergreen

Bloom Color White

Bloom Time Spring

The flowers are showy


Environment This plant tolerates drought, occasional wetness and some salt.
This plant will grow in very dry to occasionally wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color No change in fall color

Culture Notes Surviving best in full sun and well-drained soil, pyracantha is slightly salt-tolerant. Flowers are borne on last year's wood, so prune after flowering in the spring to maximize flower display. This cultivar is popular due to the bright red berries and ground cover effect.
Planting and establishing shrubsThe most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.
Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer. This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

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