Firethorn

Did you know

• Its vicious thorns can grow over an inch long, making pyracantha hedges an effective security barrier against intruders.
• The clusters of bright orange, red, or yellow berries persist through winter and are a crucial food source for wintering birds.
• Despite their bitter taste, the berries are edible when cooked and can be made into jelly that tastes similar to crabapple.
• Police in the United Kingdom have recommended pyracantha as a natural anti-burglar plant for planting under windows.
• A single mature pyracantha shrub can produce thousands of berries, and waxwings have been known to strip a bush in hours.

Color meanings

Uses

• security hedging
• espalier on walls
• wildlife food source
• ornamental berry display