PLNTversePLNTverse
Plants › Bonsai

narrowleaf firethorn (Pyracantha angustifolia)

Pyracantha angustifolia is an evergreen, thorny shrub with a dense, spreading habit. It is reported to be perennial.

LightIt is reported to grow in sun to partial sun, with poorer fruiting in shaded positions.
WaterIt is reported to prefer well-drained soil that retains moderate moisture.
TemperatureWith few sources, it is reported to tolerate temperatures down to about -10 °C.
Track your narrowleaf firethorn in the PLNTverse app
narrowleaf firethorn illustration

Overview

Pyracantha angustifolia is an evergreen, thorny shrub with a dense, spreading habit. It is reported to be perennial.

Origin and habitat

Pyracantha angustifolia is native to East Asia; sources agree on China but differ on whether its native range also includes the eastern Himalayas of India and on its distribution within China. Sources differ on its habitat accounts: it occurs in hillside scrub and along roadsides, while in invaded areas it also occurs in moist forests and open ground. It is reported to tolerate some cold, conditions from sun to partial sun, wind, and air pollution.

Characteristics

With few sources, mature height is reported at about 0–300 cm. The evergreen leaves are narrow. The flowers are white, and pollinating insects include bees. The small, round pomes range from orange-yellow to red.

Light

It is reported to grow in sun to partial sun, with poorer fruiting in shaded positions.

Watering

It is reported to prefer well-drained soil that retains moderate moisture.

Temperature and dormancy

With few sources, it is reported to tolerate temperatures down to about -10 °C.

Growing medium and mounting

It is reported to prefer well-drained loam with moderate moisture retention and to adapt to warm soils that are not excessively heavy; it is also reported to grow in heavy clay and chalky soils.

Propagation

It is reported to be propagated by seed or cuttings. Mature seed is reported to be best sown immediately after collection, while stored seed requires cold stratification. Cuttings may be taken from near-mature shoots with a heel.

Common problems

It is reported to be susceptible to scab and fire blight, and Pyracantha plants can host the fire-blight bacterium Erwinia amylovora. Excessive shade is reported to reduce fruiting, while scab and fire blight are noted as particular concerns when it is grown in acidic sandy soil. Its cold hardiness is reported to be unreliable in colder parts of Britain, while it has a considerable degree of wind tolerance.

Identification

Pyracantha angustifolia has sharply thorned branches, evergreen foliage, a dense spreading habit, white flowers, and conspicuous small fruits ranging from orange-yellow to red.

Photos

Pyracantha angustifolia
📷 SAplants · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Pyracantha angustifolia
📷 no rights reserved, uploaded by Richard Fuller · CC0 · source
Pyracantha angustifolia
📷 Matthew Lincoln, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by M · CC BY · source

Sources