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Shrubs

Pyracantha atalantioides

Gibbs' firethorn

A large evergreen shrub to 4m tall, with narrowly elliptic leaves and clusters of small creamy-white flowers in spring, followed by showy orange-red berries

Synonyms

Pyracantha gibbsii

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or East–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Pyracantha are evergreen shrubs or small trees, with spiny branches bearing simple leaves and corymbs of small white flowers followed by showy red, orange or yellow berries
Name status: Correct
Plant range: China

How to grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in fertile soil in sun or partial shade. Best sheltered from cold drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings from late-spring onwards or propagate by seed. Extract seeds from berries in autumn, sow and keep in cold frame. Seeds need about three months of cold stratification before they germinate.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Hedging and screens
Wall side borders
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1. On wall-trained plants after flowering in mid-summer, shorten lateral shoots to 2-3 leaves from the base to expose the developing berries

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, woolly aphid, caterpillars, brown scale and leaf-mining moths

Diseases

May be susceptible to pyracantha scab, honey fungus and fireblight

Get involved

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