Pyracantha

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Pyracantha (Latin Pyracantha) - a genus of evergreen shrubs of the Rosaceae family. The genus includes 6 species, distributed mainly in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Characteristics of culture

Pyracantha is a spreading or erect shrub up to 5-6 m in height, similar in appearance to representatives of the genus Cotoneaster (lat. Cotoneaster), characterized by shoots equipped with thorns 2.5 cm long. The shoots are completely covered with fragrant flowers of a white or whitish-cream shade, from which subsequently clusters of yellow, orange or red berries are formed in a shiny surface.

The fruits hang on the shoots for a rather long time, as a rule, throughout the winter, thereby adding decorativeness to the shrubs. The leaves are dark green, from lanceolate to narrow-oblong, notched or blunt, less often pointed, serrated or whole-edged, up to 5 cm long. Fruits are not eaten, although they are not poisonous and do not harm the human body.

Growing conditions

Pyracants are unpretentious, they can develop normally on almost any type of soil. The culture is undemanding to fertility, too, to lighting. It can grow in both sunny and shaded areas. In the deep shade, the pyracantha does not bloom so abundantly and, accordingly, forms very few fruits. In such areas, the decorativeness of plants is also lost. Culture does not tolerate sites that are not protected from cold, piercing winds.

Loose, well-aerated, moderately moist soils are optimal for pyracantha. If the growing conditions are met, the pyracantha develops better and faster, sometimes it becomes somewhat aggressive towards nearby shrubs. In single plantings, the plant is formed in the form of a large spreading bush up to 3 m high.

Reproduction and planting

Propagated by pyracantha seeds and cuttings. Sowing seeds is carried out in spring or autumn directly into open ground. In the first case, the seeds require preliminary cold stratification. Cuttings are carried out in the summer. Cuttings are cut from semi-freshened shoots. Cuttings are planted in greenhouses.

It is important to provide the cuttings with protection from the scorching sun, regular watering and spraying. Cuttings take root within 2, 5-3 weeks. Young plants are transplanted next spring. For the formation of a hedge, experienced gardeners recommend using two-year-old seedlings purchased from specialized nurseries. In this case, the distance between plants should be at least 0.5 m.

Care

Pruning is one of the most important pyracantha care procedures. If pruning is untimely, the plants become unattractive and even ugly. The culture tolerates pruning easily, therefore, pyracants are often used in topiary art. The first pruning is carried out in early spring - dry and damaged shoots are removed; the second before flowering - the horizontal side shoots are shortened by 1/3; in the third autumn, the overgrown shoots of the new growth are removed.

In addition to pruning, watering, weeding and loosening are regularly carried out. During the growing season, plants are fed with mineral fertilizers twice a month. Pyracants grown as vertical landscaping need support - trellises and drawstrings. With proper and timely care, pyracanths are practically not affected by pests and diseases. If the conditions of detention are violated, the culture is attacked by aphids or affected by scab and phytophthora. When working with bushes, you must be very careful, as the pyracantha is "armed" with sharp thorns, which can severely injure your hands.

Usage

Pyracants look great in single and group plantings, ideal for creating a hedge. The culture is an excellent honey plant, its aroma attracts bees and bright berries of birds, which allow you to get rid of annoying insect pests. Surprisingly, even in winter, plants attract with their beauty and delight others in such a nondescript and sad time of the year. It is not forbidden to grow pyracantha as a houseplant, although for the winter the plants are taken out to cold rooms with a temperature of 1-3C.