Pyracantha coccinea
Common name: 
Scarlet Firethorn
Pronunciation: 
pi-ra-KANTH-a kok-SIN-ee-a
Family: 
Rosaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub, 6-18 ft (1.8-5.5 m), many cultivars, variable habit.  Leaves alternate, simple, narrow-elliptic or lanceolate, 2.5-6.5 cm long, crenulate-serrulate, apex acute or rarely obtuse (often a sturdy point), lustrous dark green above.  Flowers perfect, white, 8 mm across, in 5-7.5 cm long clusters (corymbs) in spring or early summer.  Fruit berry-like (pome), 6 mm diam, orange-red, persisting into winter.
  • Sun for best fruiting, but does well in partial shade.  Prefers soil that is dry in summer and pH 5.5 to 7.5.  Birds are attracted to the fruit and they can distribute the seeds into other areas and thereby establishing new plantings, which may be invasive in natural areas. 
  • Hardy to USDA Zone (5)6     Native from Italy to the Caucasus.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: north side of Community Hall, poor fruiting
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  • leaves and fruit

    leaves and fruit

  • fruit clusters and leaves

    fruit clusters and leaves