Hedging Plants – Pyracantha

Name - also know as Firethorn

Description and uses – Dense, prickly, fast growing evergreen hedge, clusters of white flowers in June and masses of berries in autumn and winter. Pyracantha is shade tolerant and as a hedge species can be extended to train up a wall of any aspect where a height of nine feet and spread of twelve feet can be reached.

Maintenance and problems – Hedge plants should be trimmed between May and July to make a hedge of four to nine feet. One problem which is common on Firethorns is scab. The problem is first noticeable when greyish black or khaki coloured, scab-like patches appear upon the foliage which then falls prematurely. It is caused by a fungus which is encouraged by wet weather and over-winters on the plant in infected leaves as tiny pustules. If you notice the disease beginning, you should remove all infected growth by cutting out the affected leaves and checking the remainder of the plant for any pustules which should also be cut away and destroyed. Once the plant has been checked and pruned, spray at fortnightly intervals with a fungicide designed to deter scab. Spring pruning concentrates on cutting back outward growing shoots and shortening other growth. While summer pruning involves shortening the new growth to two or three leaves beyond the fruit clusters to expose the developing berries to the ripening effect of the sun. After the spring pruning Pyracantha hedges can be clipped over two or three times in the summer to maintain a formal outline, but this will inevitably remove some of the berries. NB Wear thick gloves when pruning firethorns as the spines are very sharp.

Hedging pyracantha photograph by the Marmot, used under a creative commons attribution licence

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