(Firethorn)

These ornamental shrubs or small trees are best known for their clusters of showy, berry-like fruits that typically mature late in the season. There are ten species in the genus Pyracantha and all originate from eastern Asia westward to southeastern Europe. These evergreen, woody plants have upright, bushy or spreading habits and tend to inhabit open forests, tree lines and scrub areas in the wild.

Pyracantha have stems armed with harsh thorns. Their leaves alternate on the...

(Narrow-leaved Firethorn)

The dark foliage of narrow-leaved firethorn beautifully complements the white spring flowers and the orange fall and winter fruits. Hailing from southwestern China, it is named for its narrow oblong leaves. Lustrous and deep green above, the evergreen to semi-evergreen leaves are gray and felted underneath. In early to midsummer, the nastily thorned branches are covered in thousands of small, malodorous white blossoms, followed by small flattened green berries that ripen to golden- or red-orange....

(Gnome Firethorn, Narrow-leaved Firethorn)

Gnome firethorn is a compact and hardy selection of pyracantha, better suited to colder winters and more resistant to fireblight, a common disease in the species. The dark green, bushy form of this Narrow-leaved Firethorn wonderfully contrasts with the white flowers and orange-colored fruits. The parent species hails from western China and is named for its comparatively narrow oval or oblong leaves that are grayish on the undersides. In early to midsummer, the nastily-thorned branches are covered...

(Narrow-leaved Firethorn, Yukon Belle Firethorn)

The cultivar 'Yukon Belle' is a compact hardy selection of narrow-leaved firethorn, an evergreen shrub hailing from southwestern China. The glossy dark green leaves of 'Yukon Belle' beautifully complement the white spring flowers and the orange fall and winter fruits. The leaves are gray and felted underneath. In early to midsummer, the nastily thorned branches are covered in thousands of small, malodorous white blossoms, followed by small flattened green berries that ripen to golden- or red-orange....

(Apache Firethorn, Firethorn)

This drought-tolerant hybrid, 'Apache,' is a thorny, evergreen shrub with a mounding, compact habit. When fully grown it is roughly one-third the size of standard firethorns. This fine selection was hybridized by 1970s by Donald Egolf of the U.S. National Arboretum. 'Apache' was selected and released for sale in the late 1980s. In addition to beauty, it possesses excellent resistance to fireblight and fungal scab diseases.

The semi-evergreen foliage of this firethorn is fine, glossy and dark-green....

(Scarlet Firethorn)

The showy, colorful fall fruits of scarlet firethorn can’t be beat. This thorny, evergreen shrub is native to southeastern Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus region. It can become quite large and can develop a broad rounded, upright or spreading habit at maturity.

The evergreen to semi-evergreen leaves of firethorn are small, glossy, dark green and turn shades of bronze, dark green and brown in fall and winter. In spring, it bears clusters of white, musty smelling flowers that are attractive to bees....

(Kasan Firethorn, Scarlet Firethorn)

The profuse orange-red fall fruits of ‘Kasan’ bring vibrant color to the autumn garden. This Russian-bred cultivar is best distinguished by its exceptional hardiness and broad, spreading growth habit.

The thorny branches of ‘Kasan’ become covered with small, glossy, dark green leaves that turn shades of brown, bronze and deep green in winter. In spring, they bear many showy clusters of white, musty smelling flowers that are attractive to bees. The green fruits that follow resemble miniature apples...

(Laland's Scarlet Firethorn, Scarlet Firethorn)

The profuse, colorful fall fruits of Laland's scarlet firethorn are a beautiful sight. This tall, upright shrub from southern Europe and western Asia has thorny stems and small, glossy, dark green leaves that are evergreen and turn green-brown in fall and winter. In spring, plants bear clusters of white, musty-smelling flowers that develop into clusters of vibrant orange-red fruits that resemble miniature apples. These will persist into winter and are eaten by birds.

Scarlet firethorn needs full...

(Lowboy Firethorn, Scarlet Firethorn)

The vigorous firethorn ‘Lowboy’ is distinguished by its broad low, spreading habit and profuse colorful fall fruits. Though low-growing, this is not a compact shrub. Its arching and spreading branches cover a lot of ground. This evergreen to semi-evergreen originates from southeastern Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus region.

The thorny stems of firethorn are densely covered with small, glossy, dark green leaves and turn shades of dark green and brown in fall and winter. In spring, it bears clusters...

(Rutgers Firethon, Scarlet Firethorn)

The abundant, colorful fruits of ‘Rutgers’ scarlet firethorn bring a lush, vibrant show to the autumn garden. This sprawling shrub with thorny, arching branches is descended from a species native to southern Europe and western Asia. It has small, glossy-green leaves that are evergreen and turn green-brown in fall and winter. In spring, this plant blooms with numerous clusters of white, musty-smelling flowers. They develop into clusters of large, bright- orange fruits that resemble tiny apples. The...