Pirakanta planting and care in the open field in the suburbs

The genus Pyracantha belongs to the Pink family and includes 7 species of shrub evergreens. The main distribution area of ​​pyracantha is the South of Asia and Europe.

The shoots of these bushes are covered with thorns, can be straight or spreading. The foliage is in the teeth, oval, sometimes narrowed, does not differ in great length. The flowers are white, collected in shields, and have a pleasant smell. The plant is monoecious, that is, one individual is enough for pollination. The berries are red, not poisonous, but they are not used for food because of their bitter taste.

Varieties and types

The most popular of the cultivated species is Narrow-leaved pyracantha... This shrub is native to China and is most suitable for cultivation in the temperate zone. The height of this species is about 3 m, sometimes slightly higher, the flowers are small, white in color, berries are rich orange.

• Variety orange glow Is a semi-evergreen plant with orange berries that birds love.

Pyracantha bright red this species is not so tall - up to 2 m, its branches form a wider crown, the berries are also orange, the foliage turns red from green by autumn. This plant is well suited for the formation of hedges due to the fact that it can easily withstand any cuttings.

• Variety Ed Column - differs from the main species in the more saturated color of scarlet berries.

• Soleil Door - variety with yellow fruit color.

Pyracantha crenate this species does not differ much from its congeners, but it has a greater decorative effect due to stronger flowering, during which the aroma of flowers spreads far.

Scarlet Pirakanta also easily withstands pruning and is suitable for hedging in dry, lit areas. This species is more sensitive to frost than others.

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Pirakantha planting and care in the open field

Caring for a pyracantha is easy, since it does not need nutrient soils, because in the wild, this bush grows on stones and sandy substrates. When choosing a site for planting, you need to make sure that it does not lie in the lowland and water does not stagnate in it.

First of all, it is better to pay attention to areas with light shade, but in general this is a photophilous plant and some species will feel much better in the sun than even in light shade.

When grown in a garden, pyracantha does not require additional watering, unless only in very high heat. It can also do without dressing, but in order to achieve the maximum decorative effect, it is advisable to apply full mineral fertilizer once every 15 days in the dose indicated on the package.

The field ashberry also belongs to the Pink family, it is easily grown for planting and care in the open field, but it requires compliance with some maintenance rules. You will find recommendations for growing this shrub in this article.

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Pruning pyracantha

For this shrub to be beautiful and attractive, it must be pruned. It is best to prune in the spring. At this time, both sanitary and formative pruning is carried out. But in the spring you cannot remove many branches - the permissible rate is a third of the branches, the rest are shortened only after flowering.The next pruning can be done in the fall by shortening the shoots again and getting rid of broken and dry branches.

Please note that the branches of the pyracantha grow quickly, therefore, when a sufficient number of stems have grown, the forming pruning will need to be carried out more often. Old branches should be renewed by cutting them to 30 cm in length. All operations must be carried out in protective gloves, otherwise you can get hurt with thorns, although varieties have already been bred on which there are almost no thorns.

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Pirakantha home care

Also, pyracantha can be cultivated in a pot - this will be especially useful if you live in an area with severe frosts. When growing in a pot, the care conditions are the same - the only exceptions are watering, which is required as the upper ball of soil dries out.

A transplant with this growing method is carried out every three years by transshipment, so as not to injure the root system too much.

This plant is not hardy. It does not feel much discomfort, being grown in Ukraine, and in the Crimea, and it feels very good. In frosts at -20 ° C, it begins to freeze, but in the spring it quickly grows again after sanitary pruning.

At the latitudes of the Moscow region, it is better to grow a pyracantha in a pot method, and during the growing season to take out a tub with a plant outside, since prolonged frosts, even with shelter, can severely damage it.

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Pyracantha growing from seeds

The pyracantha can be propagated generatively - by seeds, and vegetatively - by cuttings.

Seeds require stratification, so it is better to sow them directly in open ground before cold weather. But with the seed method, varietal characteristics are not preserved, therefore it is suitable only for pure species.

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Pyracantha propagation by cuttings

Cutting is more often used, since when using it, varietal characteristics are preserved. Green cuttings from young branches take root better. From the bottom of the twigs, foliage is cut off and placed in water or wet sand.

For the cutting, you need to create a greenhouse, which can be done by putting a plastic bottle on a twig or wrapping it in plastic. The material is kept warm in a shady place, out of direct sunlight. After 20-30 days, roots will begin to appear. At this time, the cuttings must be constantly lightly watered and sprayed.

As the cuttings grow, watering will need to be increased, and when there is little space in the growing container, it will be necessary to transplant. Thus, the material is grown throughout the year - after that it will be possible to plant it in open ground.

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Diseases and pests

This shrub lives in difficult natural conditions and due to this it rarely gets sick and is almost not affected by pests.

Sometimes on foliage may appear aphid, which occupies the branches with black clouds, leaving behind liquid waste products. If affected by this pest, you can spray the branches with citrus infusion, an infusion of garlic or onion husks is also suitable. If there are a lot of insects, then it is better to resort to insecticide preparations.

In rare cases, appears fire blight - Rosaceae disease. Wherein branches and foliage begin to brown and die off... Unfortunately, the best solution in this case would be to burn the plant, since there is almost no chance of curing it.

Also note that pyracantha does not start blooming in the first year after planting. In addition, the reason lack of flowering excess nitrogen in the soil can serve.

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Pyracantha is an ornamental evergreen shrub, loved by gardeners for its white-cream fragrant flowers, which are abundantly strewn in the spring, and shiny berries (yellow, red, orange) that stand out brightly against the autumn-winter background.

Description of the plant

Pyracantha, planting and caring for which give true pleasure to many gardeners, originally from Southeast Asia, is widespread in Southern Europe, China, Taiwan, found at the foot of the Himalayas and in the Crimea.

A representative of the Rosaceae family in natural conditions reaches 6 meters in height and looks very similar to a hawthorn and cotoneaster. Dark green oval leaves and sharp, long (up to 2.5 cm) thorns at the beginning of summer can completely hide under fragrant small flowers, united in corymbose inflorescences. At the end of summer, abundant flowering is replaced by the appearance of berries, colored in the tones of autumn and present on the branches almost until the end of winter. Birds, especially blackbirds, love to feast on the fruits of the pyracantha. Gardeners are of little interest in the autumn harvest because of the bitterness contained in the berries. Although for humans, the fruits of pyracantha are not dangerous.

Plant species

Pirakanta, the peculiarities of planting and caring for which even a novice gardener can easily master, has 7 types of shrubs:

• Koizumi (representative of Taiwan).
• Rogers (grows in Yunnan province).
• Tooth-leaved.
• South Chinese.
• Dull toothed.
• Bright red.
• Narrow-leaved.

In garden culture, the last two species are most in demand, which are the basis for breeding new varieties and hybrids in breeding science.

Narrow-leaved pyracantha (P. augustifolia) is most suitable for cultivation in temperate climates. Plant height - up to 4 meters, flowers - white, small, fruits - bright orange color.

Pyracantha bright red (P. coccinea) lower (about 2 meters). It is characterized by a lush spreading crown and orange berries. The leaves are dark green. In autumn they turn red.

In care, the plant, referred to in translation from English as "fire thorn", is quite unpretentious, calmly tolerates drought and frost. In order to preserve the rich green color of the leaves from the scorching rays of the sun during the hot period, it is better to plant the pyracantha in partial shade. The landing site should be free of drafts and close occurrence of groundwater.

Pyracantha: landing and leaving

The photo clearly demonstrates the charmingly luxurious beauty of the pyracantha. Like any plant, an evergreen crop feels most comfortable in fertile soil. In the absence of such, it adapts to the surrounding conditions, even if it is sandy slopes and rocky talus. Irrigation measures are not necessary: ​​pyracantha, planting and care in the open field for which are not laborious, feels calm even in a dry season.

Pruning is an important factor in caring for evergreen perennials characterized by active growth. It should be carried out every year: in early spring (before the start of the movement of juices) and in summer. In the spring, the shrub is cleaned of diseased and old branches, in the summer it is recommended to shorten the long young shoots. To avoid injury, contact the plant with gloves only.

Breeding features

After summer pruning, the remaining tops can be used to propagate the shrub. With this method (cuttings), all the features of the parent plant are preserved. Cuttings in the lower part must be freed from the leaf mass, placed in wet sand. The first roots will appear in 2 weeks, growth after a couple of months. Young plants can be planted in a permanent place of growth the next year. For the formation of a hedge, 2-year-old specimens are optimal, which are recommended to be placed no closer than half a meter from each other. Full bushes can be admired in 3 years.

Pyracantha, planting and caring for which consists in carrying out a minimum of measures, also propagates by seed, sowing both in the autumn and in the spring (after the stratification of seeds). It should be borne in mind that with this method of planting varietal characteristics are not preserved.

Pyracantha in landscape design

Pirakanta, planting and caring for which is not particularly difficult, is an excellent option for landscape design and is widely in demand as a hedge: beautiful, lush, reliably protecting private property from uninvited guests. For this purpose, the pyracantha Red Column is most suitable. Planting and caring, when done correctly, ensure that the plant is in demand in garden design. An evergreen culture that creates an atmosphere of naturalness and imitation of a wild forest, harmonious in the background of a mixed flower garden (mixborder) and is often planted near the walls of houses and other outbuildings. Such a shrub is not suitable for vertical gardening, so it is recommended to attach its main branches to supports. After the support is removed, the habit-forming plant will continue to maintain its desired shape.

Indoor growing pyracantha

Pyracantha, planting and caring for which even a novice gardener can do, is quite popular as a tub plant and is in demand in such an art form as bonsai (creating miniature trees). The garden culture looks incredibly beautiful with a topiary haircut, as well as with a crown formed in the form of a cascade.

Semi-lignified shoots do not lend themselves well to forming, therefore, corrective actions are best carried out on young branches and do it very carefully due to the fragility of the latter. When growing indoor pyracante, it is important to ensure regular pruning and a cool climate in winter. Potted specimens are transplanted every 2-3 years by the transshipment method, ensuring the safety of the root system.

Landing a pyracantha and features of caring for her

The pyracantha shrub in garden landscaping is used as a single planting to simulate a wild garden or to create a hedge. In the spring it is replete with flowers, and in the fall it gives a huge amount of fruits. They are not edible, or rather, they are tasteless and even with a small amount of bitterness, have a wide range of color palette, outwardly resemble small apples or rowan bunches. Fruiting is so exuberant that it can even close the leaves, and the decorativeness of this shrub only benefits from this.

Narrow-leaved pyracantha and red pyracantha are the most common shrubs that can be found in gardening country gardens. When growing a pyracantha as a hedge, keep in mind that the narrow-leaved one reaches 4 m in height, while the red one is only 2 m, but the red can be 5 m wide. unwanted "guests".

Planting and caring for a pyracantha is the simplest, so even a novice gardener can grow this shrub.

Place and soil

You can plant a pyracantha on any soil, it will absolutely calmly transfer even uncultivated soil. The place should be slightly shady, protected from the wind (near outbuildings). Direct exposure to sunlight will negatively affect the color of the leaves, they begin to turn yellow, and decorativeness will be lost in full shade. Planting a pyracantha is desirable on a plain or even on a hill, in the lowlands it develops poorly.

Landing

Planted pyracantha in the spring, after thawing the soil. The depth of the planting pit is twice as large as the earthen lump, loosen the bottom before planting, mix the dug soil with a bucket of compost and lay it in a small layer in the pit. Then install the seedling and cover it with earth. Form a watering circle.

Care

Pyracantha is a frost- and drought-resistant plant. Abundant watering is not needed. It is better to cut off dead wood and branches damaged after winter, thereby helping faster growth recovery. Carry out pruning before sap flow, immediately forming the necessary shape of the bush, be sure to remove the remaining fruits.The second pruning should be carried out at the end of August (for the rejuvenating one, the entire ground part is cut off, leaving shoots up to 30 cm high from the ground surface). Pruned branches are used for reproduction. Cover the cuts with garden pitch.

It is easy to form a pyracantha with the help of supports, since in itself it is not a climbing plant and it cannot just wrap a fence or a wall of a building with its shoots. Install them when planting and direct the branches in the necessary directions, the pyracantha will quickly "remember" the course of growth and continue it in the future without additional supports.

When growing a pyracantha in the open field, you do not need to make additional fertilizing. The plant that has frozen over the winter is restored and resumes its growth in the spring.

Propagated by pyracantha seeds or semi-lignified cuttings. Cuttings are planted in a greenhouse for rooting. Water and loosen regularly. After a year, the plant can be transplanted to a permanent place. Seed propagation requires stratification.

In my winter garden, against the background of spruces and junipers sprinkled with snow, an evergreen pyracantha bush is blazing with fire of scarlet berries. A favorite of professional gardeners, she is little known to amateur gardeners. But with the help of this spectacular plant, you can solve many garden problems and give the winter garden a special charm.

Pyracantha (Pyracantha) belongs to the genus of evergreen thorny shrubs of the rose family (Rosaceae). It is widely used as an ornamental plant, despite the small variety of species, of which there are only seven. Depending on the type, the bushes can be erect or widely spreading, with a height of 1 to 6 m. The shoots are covered with long thorns (2.5 cm), the leaves are serrated, evergreen, in winter they acquire a brown tint.

Pyracantha (Pyracantha) belongs to the genus of evergreen thorny shrubs.

Adult plants give such abundant flowering in spring with white corymbose inflorescences that the foliage of the bush becomes almost invisible. The fruits are similar to small apples, have a bright orange, red or yellow color, depending on the variety, but, unfortunately, have no nutritional value. But for wintering birds, the pyracantha is a great dessert!

The natural habitat of the "fiery" beauty is Southeast Asia, the warm countries of Europe, as well as the Crimea and the Caucasus. Despite its thermophilic origin, the pyracantha has adapted well to our climate.

In landscape design, pyracantha is most often used as a hedge. All-season greenery, exuberant spring blooms and bright clusters of berries create a spectacular and reliable fence through which uninvited guests are unlikely to be able to get through. It is not for nothing that European gardeners call it a "fire thorn", partly because of the bright fruits, and partly because of the burning pain caused by a huge thorn that has pierced the body.

In landscape design, pyracantha is most often used as a hedge.

Single, spreading or upright bushes work wonderfully as tapeworms, and evergreen curbs are created from low-growing varieties. Using the trellis method of shaping, you can create an unusual tree for Provence-style gardens from a pyracantha bush. And in group plantings, she will always be prima.

Piracantu can be grown as a tub crop and used for landscaping terraces, Mediterranean-style recreation areas. In addition, it is widely used as a houseplant as a bonsai. A necessary condition for home maintenance is the creation of cold wintering conditions for her, not higher than 0 ° C. For growing in the garden, I will note the most frost-resistant varieties of narrow-leaved pyracantha and scarlet pyracantha, which calmly endure the winter cold.

For growing in the garden, I will note the most frost-resistant varieties of narrow-leaved pyracantha and scarlet pyracantha, which calmly endure the winter cold.

Pyracantha varieties suitable for our climate

Resistant to any whims of nature are two species: bright red pyracantha (Pyracantha coccinea) and narrow-leaved pyracantha (Pyracantha augustifolia).

Pyracantha bright red came to us from the Crimea and Eastern Europe: 5 climatic zone.
The most famous varieties:

Pyracantha coccinea Kasan - a powerful shrub with strong shoots, grows up to 2.5 m in height. The leaves are dark green, shiny. Flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences, located along the shoots, bloom in May. Fruits are orange-red, round, persist for a long time on the bushes. The variety is especially resistant to low temperatures.

Pyracantha coccinea var. Kuntayi - undersized shrub, no more than 1 m in height. Leaves are dark green, leathery, shiny. Flowers are white, in corymbose inflorescences, flowering in May. Fruits are globular, bright red. Ripen by the end of summer, persist for a long time on the bushes.

Pyracantha coccinea red column - semi-evergreen shrub 2 m high with elastic straight shoots. Leaves are dark green shiny, fall off in cold winters. Flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences, bloom in May. The fruits are bright red, spherical. The bush needs a winter shelter. Grows best under house walls and fences. Suitable for growing on trellises.

Narrow-leaved pyracantha - a native of the western regions of China. Fruits of specific plants are orange, varietal specimens - from yellow to red. The most famous varieties:

Pyracantha angustifolia orange glow - an erect shrub with sparse branches, up to 2.5 m high. The leaves are green, do not fall off in mild winters. Flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences, flowering in May. The berries are round, bright orange. Grows better under house walls and fences. Needs winter shelter.

Pyracantha angustifolia golden charmer - a fast-growing shrub with long arched shoots. Spectacular bloom in May. Abundant fruiting, orange-yellow berries. Super-resistant to air pollution and drought bush, in very cold winters can freeze slightly, quickly recovers, shelter is recommended.

Scarlet Pirakanta (R. Сotoneaster) and Pyracantha crenate (P. crenulata) are decorative, but have poor winter hardiness. Therefore, they are recommended to be used as indoor plants.

How to raise a pyracantha

In culture, the "fire thorn" is a plant that is completely uncomplicated in terms of agricultural technology. All soils are suitable for him, including stony dumps and other areas of land that are completely unsuitable for cultivation. The only thing, when choosing a place in the garden, exclude those areas in which cold air accumulates - lowlands. It is better to plant bushes in partial shade, under the reliable protection of a house wall or fence from northern winds. Pyracantha will grow in sunny places, but the midday heat can cause burns and yellowing of the leaves, which will affect the decorative effect.

Adult plants are drought-resistant and do not need regular watering, but the shrub will not refuse feeding.

We apply fertilizers according to the scheme:

● growing in the ground - 2 times in April with nitrogen-containing fertilizers and 2 times in July with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers;
● tub crops - from May to August with complex mineral fertilizers every two weeks.

Important: pyracantha doesn't like transplants! When choosing a place for planting, think over everything - the habitus of an adult plant, the allelopathic nature of neighboring plants, the safe location of the bushes in relation to the garden paths. When 3-4-year-old bushes are transplanted, the entire aerial part or even the entire plant may die.

When choosing a place for planting, think over everything - the habitus of an adult plant, the allelopathic nature of neighboring plants, the safe location of the bushes in relation to the garden paths.

Container growing. To grow pyracantha in flowerpots, use a mixture of turf and sand in a ratio of 2: 1. Watering is moderate, the coma should not be allowed to dry out. The transfer of the bush to a large container is carried out every 3 years. A shaping haircut is a must! Lovers of spectacular forms can create masterpieces of topiary art from pyracantha.

Formation of bushes. Pyracantha needs both a sanitary pruning and a shaping haircut.

Obligatory annual pruning is carried out in early spring, at the beginning of the growing season. Given the prickly temper of the "fiery" beauty, you need to act carefully and step by step. First, remove the berries remaining after winter, then cut out the incorrectly oriented branches, and also boldly remove ⅓ of the horizontally located shoots. The rest of the branches are shortened immediately after flowering. At the end of summer, excessively long young stems are minted.

A rejuvenating haircut is carried out on old, heavily overgrown bushes, cutting off all the shoots at a height of 30 cm from the ground. Then the largest excess branches are cut out flush with the ground.

The cutting procedure is not a very pleasant thing, but it is necessary - the pyracantha grows quickly, and systematic pruning provides the plant with aesthetics of shape and healthy maintenance.

Reproduction. Pyracantha propagates by seeds and cuttings.

Seeds are sown in prepared beds in the fall to a depth of 2-3 cm. When sowing in spring, it is necessary to carry out a preliminary 3-month stratification of seeds. It should be remembered that seed reproduction does not preserve the characteristics of the variety, the seedlings are friendly, but variegated. To create a hedge, select seedlings that are equal in height, color and leaf shape.

With vegetative propagation, the new seedling retains all the characteristics of the parent variety. For cuttings, both green and semi-lignified cuttings are used. For rooting, standard technologies are used - high-quality soil, greenhouse effect, watering, ventilation.

Wintering... Cold-resistant species and varieties of pyracantha normally endure our Ukrainian winters without additional shelter. But it is advisable to take into account the planting site of the shrub, protecting it from the northern winds. In case of possible freezing, the bushes quickly recover in the current season. Just remember to remove damaged branches in the spring.

It is not only pleasant, but also useful to have such a stable ornamental plant as a pyracantha on your site, since the “fire thorn” is a powerful honey plant, a reliable hedge and a surprisingly effective garden decoration. In our climatic zone, so little, especially by garden standards, lasts a warm period. And it is sad to observe the absence of foliage and greenery on a bare site for most of the year. Always an elegant pyracantha comes to the rescue, which favorably affects our consciousness with the joyful flowers of bright greenery and red berries, and even against the background of white snow. So, if you are just thinking about what plants to choose for your winter garden, get a pyracantha - it will not let you down!