The Firethorn is very popular due to its fire-red berries which populate the plant during the warmer summer season to autumn and winter months. These berries develop after spring flowerings of delightfully fragrant, white blossoms. When planted with the intention for a hedge row or perimeter foliage, the plant offers privacy through its dense groupings of elongated oval leaves, branches and thorns. It is important to be weary of a variety of pests which may attack the Pyracantha shrub, this includes aphids, caterpillars, scaling and moths which consume the leaves. A recommended pattern or trimming in order to maintain its preferred hedge shape, is to trim 2-3 times during the late-spring and summer months, taking care to best avoid the berries, although some will of course unavoidably be cut in order to maintain the hedge shape. Firethorn “Red Column” shrubs are often planted in combination with other similar varieties because of the complimentary fire colours of the berries, including yellow and orange. Create a beautiful privacy hedge row by using this dense evergreen shrub.
