Pyracantha

The genus Pyracantha includes about 10 species of evergreen shrubs with prickly branches and serrated leaves. These plants reach a height of 5-6 m. White flowers collected in corymbs with a five-petalled corolla and 20 stamens with yellow anthers bloom in late spring and summer. Fruits are small fleshy berries, red, yellow or bright orange; the remains of the calyx of the flower form a kind of crown on the berries. The fruits stay on the plants all winter. Pyracantha angustifolia is a species with narrow oblong leaves, green above and grayish and pubescent below. Flowers appear in June-July; berries-bright orange-yellow color. Pyracantha atalantoides (P. atalantoides) is a fast-growing erect species. The leaves are large oval dark green glossy. Flowers appear in May-June, the berries are bright red. Bright red pyracantha (P. coccinea) is the most common species. The leaves are oval pointed and finely toothed. In place of the flowers that bloom in May-June, bright red berries are formed. Especially popular is the variety 'Lalanda' with orange-red berries and more lush foliage than the botanical species. The fast-growing variety Red Column is characterized by glossy red fruits, while the Golden Sun variety has yellow fruits. Pyracantha crenulata is very similar to pyracantha bright red, differs from it in leaves with blunt ends. The variety 'Rogersiana' leaves are smaller, the berries are orange-red. Water's Pyracantha (Pyracantha xwatereri) is a compact hybrid of small-bordered pyracantha 'Rogersiana' and atalanthoides pyracantha. The berries are orange-scarlet. It is impossible to accurately determine the origin of the hybrid variety pyracantha 'Golden Charm'. It has large yellow-orange fruits, the cultivar is extremely resistant to diseases.

The genus Pyracantha includes about 10 species of evergreen shrubs with prickly branches and serrated leaves. These plants reach a height of 5-6 m. White flowers collected in corymbs with a five-petalled corolla and 20 stamens with yellow anthers bloom in late spring and summer. Fruits are small fleshy berries, red, yellow or bright orange; the remains of the calyx of the flower form a kind of crown on the berries. The fruits stay on the plants all winter.

Pyracantha angustifolia is a species with narrow oblong leaves, green above and grayish and pubescent below. Flowers appear in June-July; berries-bright orange-yellow color.

Pyracantha atalantoides (P. atalantoides) is a fast-growing erect species. The leaves are large oval dark green glossy. Flowers appear in May-June, the berries are bright red.

Bright red pyracantha (P. coccinea) is the most common species. The leaves are oval pointed and finely toothed. In place of the flowers that bloom in May-June, bright red berries are formed. Especially popular is the variety 'Lalanda' with orange-red berries and more lush foliage than the botanical species. The fast-growing variety Red Column is characterized by glossy red fruits, while the Golden Sun variety has yellow fruits.

Pyracantha crenulata is very similar to pyracantha bright red, differs from it in leaves with blunt ends. The variety 'Rogersiana' leaves are smaller, the berries are orange-red.

Water's Pyracantha (Pyracantha xwatereri) is a compact hybrid of small-bordered pyracantha 'Rogersiana' and atalanthoides pyracantha. The berries are orange-scarlet. It is impossible to accurately determine the origin of the hybrid variety pyracantha 'Golden Charm'. It has large yellow-orange fruits, the cultivar is extremely resistant to diseases.

Cultivation

Pyracanthas are grown in parks and gardens, especially suitable for hedges and trellises. They are also grown in containers on balconies and terraces; the conditions of megacities are also suitable due to the resistance of plants to environmental pollution. Pyracantha is planted permanently in October or March. There are no special requirements for the soil, as long as it is well drained. They can even tolerate calcified soil. When planting, organic fertilizers are applied at the rate of 5-7 kg/m2. Plants in hedges are planted at a distance of 40-60 cm from each other. When growing in containers, the substrate is made up of 2/3 of the fertile land and 1/3 from peat, add 30 g of complex mineral fertilizer. From April to July, once every 20-30 days, a complex fertilizer in the amount of 20-30 g per bucket of soil is added to the water for watering young and container-grown specimens. Plants do not need any pruning, and in hedges they are trimmed after planting, so that they branch better (for the same purpose, they constantly pinch the tops later). Then they are cut annually to maintain their shape. These bushes produce fewer fruits.

Pyracanthas are grown in parks and gardens, especially suitable for hedges and trellises. They are also grown in containers on balconies and terraces; the conditions of megacities are also suitable due to the resistance of plants to environmental pollution. Pyracantha is planted permanently in October or March. There are no special requirements for the soil, as long as it is well drained. They can even tolerate calcified soil. When planting, organic fertilizers are applied at the rate of 5-7 kg/m2. Plants in hedges are planted at a distance of 40-60 cm from each other. When growing in containers, the substrate is made up of 2/3 of the fertile land and 1/3 from peat, add 30 g of complex mineral fertilizer. From April to July, once every 20-30 days, a complex fertilizer in the amount of 20-30 g per bucket of soil is added to the water for watering young and container-grown specimens. Plants do not need any pruning, and in hedges they are trimmed after planting, so that they branch better (for the same purpose, they constantly pinch the tops later). Then they are cut annually to maintain their shape. These bushes produce fewer fruits.

Location

They can be planted both in the open sun and in partial shade.

Temperature

It is a resistant plant to both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

It is necessary only for young plants immediately after planting in the ground, but in no case should water stagnate.

Transplant

Transplanted in spring, when the roots of the plant can no longer fit in the container. If the container is roomy, then it is enough to replace the surface layer of the earth with a new one.

Reproduction

In July-August, cuttings 10-12 cm long are taken from the shoots of the current year (or in October, lignified cuttings 15 cm long) and planted in a mixture of peat and sand (1:1). After the roots are formed, the seedlings are transplanted into pots one at a time and allowed to winter in a closed, unheated room. New plants can be planted on a permanent planting site starting in the fall of next year. Sowing seeds and multiplying layers are used less often.

Diseases

Aphids (in particular, blood aphids, which manifest themselves as whitish waxy tufts on young shoots) infect the stems and leaves. They get rid of it with the help of appropriate medications. Bacterial burn can affect the apical shoots, and then the entire plant, it is accompanied by sudden drying out. Remove the affected parts or, if necessary, the entire plant. In case of illness, you should contact the local phytopathological service, because we are talking about a very serious and very contagious disease.

Acquisition

Plants of the genus Pyracantha are extremely easy to find in specialized nurseries and gardening centers. They are often sold in cups, so they are easier to plant in the open ground. Thanks to its rapid growth, the pyracantha reaches the desired size in a short time. Be sure to check the condition of the foliage and make sure that there are no pests.