Pyracantha coccinea
Firethorn

Uses

Toxic parts

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where most, if not all members of the genus produce hydrogen cyanide, a poison that gives almonds their characteristic flavour. This toxin is found mainly in the leaves and seed and is readily detected by its bitter taste. It is usually present in too small a quantity to do any harm but any very bitter seed or fruit should not be eaten. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - cooked. Used for making jellies, marmalade and sauces^[1]^[2].

Fruit

Unknown use

Material uses

Tolerant of trimming and of reasonable exposure, it can be grown as a hedge^[3]^[4]. It forms a very spiny barrier^[4].

There are no material uses listed for Pyracantha coccinea.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Pyracantha coccinea.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Hedge

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame^[4]. Remove all the fruit flesh since this can inhibit germination^[4]. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification, sow it as early in the year as possible in a cold frame^[5]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of almost mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, mid-August in a cold frame^[6]. Pot up in October or the following spring^[6].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Pyracantha coccinea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Prefers a good well-drained, moisture retentive loamy soil^[7]^[4]. Succeeds in any soil that is warm and not very heavy^[8]. Another report says that it grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds on chalky soils^[9]. Succeeds in sun or part shade^[4] and also on a shady wall^[10]^[3], though it does not fruit so well in a shady position^[4]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution and reasonable exposure^[4].

A very ornamental plant^[7], there are a number of named varieties^[8]^[4]. Susceptible to scab and fireblight^[8], especially when grown on acid sandy soils^[11]. This species, especially the cultivar 'Lelandii', is notably resistant to honey fungus^[4]. Intolerant of root disturbance except when young^[8].

A good bee plant^[9]. Birds are particularly attracted to the fruit of this plant^[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Pyracantha coccinea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Pyracantha coccinea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1 Bryan. J. and Castle. C. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing ISBN 0-273-00098-5 (1976-00-00)
? ^2.0^2.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
? ^3.0^3.1^3.2 Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties. ()
? ^4.00^4.01^4.02^4.03^4.04^4.05^4.06^4.07^4.08^4.09^4.10^4.11^4.12 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
? ^6.0^6.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
? ^7.0^7.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
? ^9.0^9.1 International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. (1981-00-00)
? Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. ISBN 0-900629-78-9 (1980-00-00)
? Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)
? Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press ISBN 0-7012-0784-1 (1987-00-00)

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-17" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

"image:Feuerdorn (Pyracantha coccinea).JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

[PFAFimport-15-1] ? ^1.0^1.1 Bryan. J. and Castle. C. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing ISBN 0-273-00098-5 (1976-00-00)

[PFAFimport-183-2] ? ^2.0^2.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)

[PFAFimport-49-3] ? ^3.0^3.1^3.2 Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties. ()

[PFAFimport-200-4] ? ^4.00^4.01^4.02^4.03^4.04^4.05^4.06^4.07^4.08^4.09^4.10^4.11^4.12 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-113-5] ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)

[PFAFimport-78-6] ? ^6.0^6.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)

[PFAFimport-1-7] ? ^7.0^7.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

[PFAFimport-11-8] ? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)

[PFAFimport-108-9] ? ^9.0^9.1 International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. (1981-00-00)

[PFAFimport-28-10] ? Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. ISBN 0-900629-78-9 (1980-00-00)

[PFAFimport-182-11] ? Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-89-12] ? Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press ISBN 0-7012-0784-1 (1987-00-00)

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Article is incomplete	Yes +
Article requires citations	No +
Article requires cleanup	Yes +
Belongs to family	Rosaceae +
Belongs to genus	Pyracantha +
Functions as	Hedge +
Has binomial name	Pyracantha coccinea +
Has common name	Firethorn +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has edible part	Fruit +
Has edible use	Unknown use +
Has environmental tolerance	High wind +
Has fertility type	Bees +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone	6 +
Has image	Feuerdorn (Pyracantha coccinea).JPG +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has mature height	4 +
Has mature width	4 +
Has primary image	Feuerdorn (Pyracantha coccinea).JPG +
Has search name	pyracantha coccinea + and firethorn +
Has shade tolerance	Permanent shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil texture preference	Sandy +, Loamy +, Clay + and Heavy clay +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomic rank	Species +
Has taxonomy name	Pyracantha coccinea +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Is deciduous or evergreen	Evergreen +
Is herbaceous or woody	Woody +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
PFAF cultivation notes migrated	No +
PFAF edible use notes migrated	No +
PFAF material use notes migrated	No +
PFAF medicinal use notes migrated	Yes +
PFAF propagation notes migrated	No +
PFAF toxicity notes migrated	No +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	No +
Tolerates wind	Yes +
Uses mature size measurement unit	Meters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.	Pyracantha coccinea +