Formosan Firethorn Pyracantha koidzumii

Formosa Pyracantha is a medium evergreen shrub that grows up to 18' and is upright, stiff, and thorny. This plant blooms in late spring to early summer and has showy but extremely foetid flowers. The orange-red berries mature in fall and persist through winter. This plant has sharp thorns and requires pruning to look manicured. When pruning, keep in mind that next season's blossoms and fruit will appear on old growth.

This plant is good for espaliers and barriers as well as a specimen plant. This plant is often confused with P. coccinea, but is easily distinguished by leaves that are broadest at the apex and truncate, whereas P. coccinea leaves are broadest at the middle and taper apically.

This plant is hard to transplant. It is tolerant of partial shade, and hot and dry conditions. It prefers pH between 5.5 and 7.5. It has pest problems with lacebugs, scale, mites, fireblight, and fruit scab disease. This is a rapid grower but it is not a bird favorite. 'Lowdense' ('Low Dense') is a dwarf cultivar that berries heavily. 

Wildlife Value: Particularly resistant to damage by deer.

Site:  tolerates hot, dry sites

Form:  Large, multi-stemmed shrub; stiff upright branches; can become unkept with age; dense, irregular spreading

Quick ID Hints:

• Some lateral branches terminate in sharp thorns
• Leaves truncate, often emarginate, broadest at apex
• Heavy clusters orange-red fruits in winter