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Shrubs

Pyracantha 'Sparkler' (v)

firethorn 'Sparkler'

An upright, to spreading, slow-growing evergreen shrub to 2m (6½ft)m high and wide, with green and cream variegated leaves, often tinged with dark pink in colder weather. The branches are spiny and dense clusters of small, white flowers in late spring appear on the previous year's growth. These are followed by a profusion of bright orange-red berries in autumn.

Synonyms

Pyracantha coccinea 'Sparkler'

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 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

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or 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 GB / Ireland: 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: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Suitable for growing in any moderately fertile garden soil, in sun or partial shade, including very dry, free-draining soils, and heavy clays, as long as they are not prone to waterlogging See pyracantha cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe or hardwood cuttings, or by seed sown in spring, after three months of cold stratification, bearing in mind that cultivars won't usually come true from seed and seed raised plants can be of variable quality.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Climber and wall shrubs
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Flowers are produced mainly on stems produced the previous year, so pruning should aim to retain as much two year old growth as possible. Prune out unwanted growth and on mature shrubs, twenty percent of older wood, after flowering has finished each year.

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

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