Firethorn, Jungleberry Bush, Pyracantha coccinea is easily grown fom seed offered from the GreenDealer selection of Rainforest plants and shrubs.

Firethorn, Pyracantha, Jungle Berry Bush
Pyracantha coccinea

An attractive landscaping evergreen shrub of Asian origins with shiny green oval leaves about one inch in length, abundance of white blossoms in spring and loaded with beautiful orange berries in autumn which can be used in wreaths and centerpieces. It belongs to the Rosaceae (Rose Family) and is usually referred to as "Firethorn". It has very sharp thorns 1 inch long which makes it a good hedge plant for keeping intruders out. It shows most beautifully against a wood fence or brick or stucco wall. A single specimen can make a striking presentation in a planting, or it can be planted in a row to form a hedge. It prefers full sun, good drainage, and can grow to 20 ft. unless controlled by annual pruning and shaping. The specimens shown above are 5 years old and about 18 ft. tall. They were photographed in my back yard in Louisville, Kentucky.

For the most part Pyracantha is drought tolerant once established, and disease resistant. One problem common to apple trees and other shrubs is "Fire Blight" which is a bacterial disease that can cause problems for Pyracantha. If browning or blackening of some of the twigs occur, prune out all such shoots and twigs well below the affected areas with pruning shears dipped after each cut in a disinfectant solution such as mercuric bichloride. The berries can be affected by a problem called "scab" which turns the berries brown prematurely. To control this problem spray with lime-sulfur in proportions of 1 part to 30 parts of water. This treatment is done in early spring before new growth has started and before flowers appear.

It is difficult to transplant, but can be propagated easily from seed, or by layering or from cuttings.

Hardy in zones 6 - 9 although there are cultivars suited to zone 5.

© 1998 Michael King