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Mohave Pyracantha

Pyracantha (py-ra-KAN-tha mow-ha-vee)

Family: Rosaceae Non-native Shrub (3-15 ft)

Introduced by US National Arboretum this shrub boasts dark green foliage with upright branches. Highly valued for its huge masses of bright red-orange berries that create a spectacle of fall color. Though it is an early fruiting variety, the showy berries have low bird appeal. It prefers moist well-drained soil in sun but is adaptable to a variety of soils and pHs. An excellent evergreen hedge, screen or accent, but plant where the thorns won't be a problem. This plant does tolerate pruning, but keep in mind that next season's blossoms will appear on old growth. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Has good disease resistance to scab and fireblight. .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 58 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
1 inch long glossy dark green, narrow leaves
Flower color
White
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Saucer; Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small white flowers in summer in large umbrels May- June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
large reddish orange fruit in late summer to winter
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
Rough brown bark
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Pubescent purple-green when emergent, changing to brown. Thorns present.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, Asia
Wildlife value
Flowers attract many kinds of pollinators. Fruits are consumed by birds. Particularly resistant to damage by deer.
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer; Winter
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Rock Wall
Design feature
Barrier; Hedge; Screen/Privacy
Garden tags
#fall interest #evergreen #deer resistant #fruits fall #thorns #security plant #orange fruits #hedge #bird friendly #fly friendly #bee friendly #screen
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Spines/Thorns
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Salt

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.