The scarlet fire(Pyracantha coccinea) is a popular ornamental shrub. From May to June, this thorny shrub is covered with a large number of tiny white flowers, and in August, bright fruits appear, which persist through the winter. See whatcultivating a scarlet fireflyin the garden, choose the bestvarieties of firethornfor your plot and learn how to independentlybreeding a scarlet firein amateur cultivation conditions!
Scarlet firefly 'Soleil d'Or'. Photo © Herbi
Red fire - cultivation
Due to their evergreen leaves and long-lasting yellow, orange or red fruits (depending on the variety), fireflies are excellent ornamental plants in winter. They are suitable for single plantings, as well as for planting in groups or creating hedges.
Scarlet firethorn requires fertile soil , humus, permeable, with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. It does not tolerate excessive moisture, it tolerates dry periods relatively well. The fire place should be sunny. On such a shrub, the shrub grows faster, blooms more abundantly and bears fruit.
Depending on the variety, fireflies are more or less resistant to frost and diseases.Little scarlet firewood varieties with low hardiness should be grown in quiet placesIf planted next to the house, the south or west side is best. The other varieties also prefer secluded positions. Evergreen leaves of wisps react with browning and falling off to frost.In spring, however, the shrubs regenerate quickly, they tolerate pruning and removing frost-damaged shoots well.
In the event of light rainfall,water should be plentifully wateredbefore winter comesto build up a supply of water, which is needed to maintain the evergreen leaves. The plants will not take water from the frozen soil.
The scarlet fire is not good for overdoing it , so choose a good position for it right away. In the case of tall and strongly branching shrubs, it is recommended to cultivate at supports, e.g. along walls or fences.
Note!The fruits of the scarlet fire are slightly poisonous. Birds do not harm and are eagerly eaten by them. However, they are harmful to humans. The stone contains a lot of toxins.
Scarlet fire - varieties
Recommended varieties of scarlet firediffer in habit, purpose, fruit color, resistance to frost and diseases.If you have a garden with different positions, if you want to cultivate individual shrubs or form a hedge, you can choose the varieties of firethorn that will meet your requirements.
Red Column 'Red Column'- shrubs with upright shoots, tall (up to 3 m). Red fruit. The plant is frost-resistant. Shrubs can grow singly or be used to create hedges. They tolerate a shaded position well.
Red firethorn 'Golden Charmer'- densely leafed shrubs, growing up to 2 m, fruiting profusely. Yellow or orange fruit. Disease resistant variety.
Scarlet firefly 'Golden Chrome'
Fig. © Katarzyna Żywot-Górecka
Scarlet Firethorn 'Orange Charmer'- densely leafed shrubs, up to 2 m high. Orange fruit. Average frost resistance.
Scarlet firethorn 'Orange Glow'- medium-sized shrubs, densely leafed, profusely fruiting. Orange or orange-red fruit. The plant is sensitive to frost, resistant to diseases.
Scarlet firefly 'Kasan'- dense shrubs, growing up to 2.5 m high, resistant to frost, air pollution and high temperatures. Little resistant to diseases. Orange fruit.
Scarlet Firethorn 'Mohave'- dense shrubs, perfect for creating hedges. Orange-yellow fruit. Bushes are sensitive to frost.
Firethorn 'Red Cushion'- Shrubs are broad, not high (they can grow up to 0.7 m), with dense foliage. Red fruit.
Scarlet fireworm 'Soleil d'Or'- Shrubs are large, wide, with slender shoots. Yellow fruit. The variety is resistant to frost and diseases.
Scarlet fire.
Fig. AnRo0002, CCO, Source: Wikimedia Commons
Red fire - reproduction
A frequently used method ispropagation of the scarlet firefly from green apical cuttingsharvested in the second half of June.Cuttings approx. 15 cm long and at least 2 nodes are obtained from he althy, this year's shoots. The seedling is cut under the knot and the skin is cut horizontally above the knot. The top of the seedling is also cut off a few cm.
The firewood cuttings prepared in this way should be treated with rooting. We dip their lower ends in the powder, from where the roots will be released. Rooting this process will speed up.
Thenfirefly cuttings are placed inpots, in a substrate consisting of a mixture of sand and peat. Young seedlings should be watered. Water loss is prevented by cultivation in the shade, in a greenhouse or under a foil cover. After the formation of a large number of roots (after about 3 months), each seedling is transplanted into a separate container and placed in a bright place. In the spring of the following year, the seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place.
The propagation of firewood from semi-woody and woody cuttingsis also popular. Such seedlings are harvested in late autumn from this year's shoots.From cuttings measuring about 15 cm with 2 pairs of nodes, the green tops and leaves from the lower part are removed, leaving one pair. Further handling of seedlings is similar to that of herbaceous apical cuttings, except that they are slightly less sensitive to water loss and drying out.
Woody cuttings are kept in the sand during the winter, in a sheltered, quiet place in the garden, in a greenhouse, in an inspection room or in a cool room. In spring, young seedlings are placed in a tunnel or ditch with sand and watered regularly. Only the part of the seedlings with the highest bud should be above the ground. The soil around them should be carefully compacted. After a few or a dozen or so weeks, the seedlings will start to release young leaves. This will be a sign thatthe breeding of the scarlet firefly has been completed successfullyYoung plants are planted in a permanent place in autumn.
It is not recommended to propagate the scarlet fire from seeds , mainly because the obtained plants are not resistant to diseases.
MSc Eng. Katarzyna Żywot-Górecka
