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Lowdense Pyracantha Pyracantha koidzumii

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
py-ra-KAN-tha koyd-ZUM-ee-i
Description

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
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Lowdense' - dwarf cultivar
  • 'Victory'
'Lowdense' - dwarf cultivar, 'Victory'
Tags:
#thorns#evergreen#drought tolerant#spring flowers#showy fruits#fast growing#summer flowers#deer resistant#fantz#bird friendly#fly friendly#malodorous#bee friendly#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Lowdense' - dwarf cultivar
  • 'Victory'
'Lowdense' - dwarf cultivar, 'Victory'
Tags:
#thorns#evergreen#drought tolerant#spring flowers#showy fruits#fast growing#summer flowers#deer resistant#fantz#bird friendly#fly friendly#malodorous#bee friendly#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pyracantha
    Species:
    koidzumii
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Taiwan
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers are visited by many kinds of pollinators. Fruits are consumed by birds. Particularly resistant to damage by deer.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 18 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are globose berries that are orange-red in color and less than an inch in diameter.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are white, foetid, and less than an inch in size. Inflorescence is a coryombose raceme on a leafy shoot that grows up to 4" across.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate, simple, evergreen to semi-evergreen, oblanceolate, entire or slightly serrate toward the apex. The apex is truncate to retuse and often emarginate. Leaves are 1-3" long and have sharp spines.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are reddish when young and become purplish.
  • Landscape:
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Dry Soil