Ilona's Garden » shrubs

Pyracantha To Set The Fall Garden Afire

the gardener — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:08:13 +0000

Pyracantha Comes in Many Varieties

The spiny Pyracantha shrub, also known as the firethorn bush, is a versatile addition to the landscape. It can be used as a hedge, an espalier feature, or a shrub specimen.

Berries, which are the main attraction of this shrub, can range in color from golden yellow to brightest orange, through scarlet red. They truly light up the fall to winter landscape.

The general cultivation information for Pyracantha coccinea did not cover the choice varieties available, but let me introduce some of those, if you are not already familiar with them.

Grow a Pyracantha Shrub

Pyracantha ‘Mohave’

This is the Pyracantha I grow. Tough and disease resistant, it is widely sold in nurseries. Pumpkin orange berries are loved by birds.

Hardiness: ‘Mohave’ is hardy in zone 6, evergreen in zone 7. I have grown it in a challenging zone 5 environment, but placed it in my most protected spot on the leeward side of my house. It has persisted when other plants, many of which were rated as more cold tolerant, have failed.

Facts: Disease resistant and tolerant of many situations including urban areas. Said to grow only to 12′ and usually smaller- don’t believe it. This can become quite tall in an area where it can grow freely , while protected from wind and cold.

Pyracantha ‘Chadwickii’

Reputed to be very hardy- to zone 4, although further north than zone 5 might require protection. A spreading shrub, shorter at 6′ height, it has a deeper orange red berry.

Hardiness: Zones 5 to 8, but reputed to be hardy to zone 4.

Facts: Good for espalier. Fruits well. Choose this variety if you are unsure whether pyracantha is hardy enough for your landscape conditions.

Pyracantha ‘Kasan’

Dense and twiggy, this is one of the stronger growing varieties, so be prepared to prune if you have a restricted area you are thinking of planting with this shrub. Consider giving it plenty of room.

Hardiness: A hardy variety, reliably Zones 5-10.

Facts: Orange red berries. Upright spreading shape, this fast grower is good for barrier hedges.

Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’

Looser branching makes this variety good for espalier work. Grows tall, but less hardy than some of the other pyracantha varieties.

Hardiness: A less hardy variety, Zones 7 to 9.

Facts: Lovely orange berries. Good for espalier, also recommended for hedges. Upright growing plant.

Pyracantha ‘Lalandei’

One of the best known varieties and often sold as an espalier on small trellises, ‘Lalandei’ is also one of the most scab susceptible firethorn plants. It will quickly outgrow that tiny trellis.

Hardiness: A hardy variety, Zones 5-9.

Facts: Bright orange berries. Grows tall, but moderately, in a broad, upright vase. It is useful for hedge and specimen, can be used as espalier by the diligent gardener (be ready for a great deal of pruning).

“Pyracantha” is Greek. “Pyr” means fire, “acanthos” means thorn, the two combined to give the name of this shrub.

Pyracantha Varieties listed by characteristic

Click here for Golden Berry Varieties

Pyracantha ‘Aurea’
Pyracantha ‘Golden Charmer’
Pyracantha ‘Soleil d’Or’

Click here for Disease Resistant Varieties

Pyracantha ‘Apache’
Pyracantha ‘Fiery Cascade’
Pyracantha ‘Mohave’
Pyracantha ‘Navaho’
Pyracantha ‘Pueblo’
Pyracantha ‘Rutgers’
Pyracantha ‘Shawnee’
Pyracantha ‘Teton’

Species and varieties

Pyracantha angustifolia
Pyracantha coccinea (the one most commonly called “Firethorn”)
Pyracantha fortuneana (Chinese Firethorn)
Pyracantha koidzumii ‘Santa Cruz’ (Santa Cruz Pyracantha)
Pyracantha koidzumii ‘Victory’ (Victory Pyracantha)

Pyracantha can be pruned into Bonsai.

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Conifers Create Interest

the gardener — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:49:31 +0000

Conifers are a whole category range of woody plants, so there are many, but the numbers are small in comparison with deciduous types. Usually evergreen, they have needle or scalelike leaves and bear cone seedfruits. There are the usual iconoclasts which blur the lines, like Larch trees which are both deciduous (lose their leaves seasonally) and classified as conifers with all the other characteristics. But basically a conifer will provide a different texture and usually an evergreen appearance in your yard.

Why Plant?

It is for that reason the they provide interest. During winter especially, they stand out from the bare landscape of the Northern dormant season and supply some greenery and “life” to the scene. Aside from that they also provide shelter from blasting winds and freezing cold for bird friends.

Conifers are, thus, both decorative and practical in value. The same protection that birds seek out will guard the edges of a garden, provide windbreak for a home, and make a strong visual outline, called the “bones” or structure of the garden. That seems to add up to reason enough to plan for planting a number of them in your yard. Where to start? Make your plan and then find your sources for the plants you are looking for, then prepare the place you wish to plant with your evergreen. Bear in mind that almost all of them like lots of sun, and none do well in strong shade.

When to Plant?

When is a good time to plant? The same time that most living plants establish well will suit conifers. Early to mid spring and late summer to early fall, not while in full growth, but with time to get the roots growing well to endure the more taxing conditions of summer or winter. While it is possible to plant conifers as long as the ground is unfrozen, a good start for the roots results in better success.

The same procedure that works for deciduous woody plants, works for the conifers. Select, and plant a shrub or tree with these directions. Planting in after Christmas, with the Living Christmas trees you purchased? Check this post. Remember to dig a good hole, first.

More than an Accent

A whole garden can be made of a combination of conifer plants, usually using the dwarf sizes. If you have the room, full size evergreen can be chosen, but remember these are often very large trees. Still, if you have a smaller garden with choices of dwarf conifers or filling a very large landscape with acreage to spare, conifers offer a number of color variations and shapes and textures which create a tapestry effect when grouped in proximity to one another.

It is good to note that most evergreen conifers are of a medium to deep green color and too many in the garden can give a “heavy” somber look, which may not be the effect desired. The consideration of that fact might influence a wider experimentation with some of the more unusual varieties, some with golden foliage, some with blue tints or even white variegation in the needles.

My Favorite Dwarf Evergreens

Dwarf Hinoki Cypress
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Bird’s Nest Spruce
Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Cyano-viridis’ AKA Boulevard cypress
Juniper ‘Blue Rug’

If you read here very often you probably know how much I like the Hinoki Cypress, but the Mugo Pine is another conifer that is very useful in the landscape. One caveat is the fact that sizes might vastly differ according to whether you have the correctly named variety or not. This is especially true of the Mugos. I would be careful to situate it where it won’t present a problem if it gets larger than expected – and prune it, as a further precaution. Alberta Spruce is popular, with the drawback of spruce mites marring the foliage. One solution I found was to underplant with Nepeta Mussinii, Catmint, which seems to repel the mites.

Conifers may be used as

foundation plantings
specimen plantings
full stop at the end of a garden border
within conifer collections
as a windbreak or to create a microclimate

I’ve often seen a selection of “micro” sized evergreen conifers sold in places like Lowes or nurseries. If you have (or make from Hypertufa) a stone sink for a rock garden collection remember that the roots may not be as hardy in an above ground container as in the ground, and some of the varieties of conifers sold may not be as hardy as those sold for general landscaping. give them the necessary protection from the heavy frosts of winter. but this is another way to include small evergreens for additional interest in your garden… on a patio or sidegarden.

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