Pyracantha (Firethorn)

[mikhurram]

Pyracantha or Firethorn bear vivid clusters of berries in red, yellow or orange colour that tends to brighten up the garden in fall. They can be grown as shrub, climber or trained as a hedge. Sharp thorns hidden beneath the leaves make them an invaluable alternative to a wall or fence as these thorns makes it virtually impossible to cross these hedges. So much so that even a cat is unable to jump over it.

In addition to their use as a protective barrier, they are a beneficial shrub for the wildlife, providing summer flower for bees, dense cover for birds apart from an abundance of berries as a food source.

The berries are not poisonous and are supposedly known to taste bitter and are used also for making jelly.

[khabbab]

Looks great. The first 5 photos are from your garden ?

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Looks great. The first 5 photos are from your garden ?

Why did you not question the 6th one.
Arif

[mikhurram]

Red Pyracantha looks more impressive as compared to yellow. The pictures of the red Pyracantha are from someones's garden and the last photo bearing the yellow Pyracantha is from my garden. The seeds are inside the berries and I intend to separating the seeds as i brought some red berries with me.

[khabbab]

Looks great. The first 5 photos are from your garden ?

Why did you not question the 6th one.
Arif

Because only 6th one looked like to be from his garden.

Thanks khurram for sharing this beautiful plant.

[mikhurram]

Seeds of Pyrancantha are found inside the berries. As an experiment sowed some seeds of Red Pyracantha last week. Seeds have now started sprouting.

[mikhurram]

I have dispatched Orange Pyrcantha seeds to the Seed Bank and seeds are inside the berries and current time is ideal for sowing them. A poll was conducted in September 2013 issue of English Garden Magazine in which the following question was asked.

Which tree is best for attracting garden birds?
The expert rated Apple, Elderberry (Sambacus Nigra) and Pyracantha as three most beneficical trees for birds.

The following was said about Pyracantha.
" The plants birds love most is a clipped hedge of Pyracantha. In spring, the thorn covered branches are the perfect places for small birds like robins, wrens to build their nests. Being skilled low level fliers, they flit in and out carrying food for their young, through gaps between thorns too tight for cats and mappies to follow. During summer, blue tits work over the evergreen leaves hunting for aphids and spiders; and come winter when there is little food for our feathered friends to eat, the berries provide a feast for blackbirds and flock of redwings. There are firethorns with orange and yellow berries but birds find the reds most attractive. All will grown in sun or shade and can be clipped to form small trees or even clipped where space is tight"

In addition the flowers preceding the berries attract bees.

Incidently Sambacus Nigra (Elderberry) is also available in Islamabad. I have a tiny plant of Elderberry.

[Tahir Khan]

Thank you khurram sb received the seeds..

[mikhurram]

Pleae note that you can also remove the seeds inside the Orange Pyracantha berries which have turned black. The current time is ideal for sowing them. On average each berry contains 3-5 seeds.

[mikhurram]

Orange Pyracantha. Previous photos were of red and yellow Pyracantha.