# Firethorn (*Pyracantha coccinea*) Firethorn is a colorful shrub that grows bright orange or red berries. It has shiny green leaves and can grow tall, making it a lovely addition to gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Firethorn](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Feuerdorn_%28Pyracantha_coccinea%29.JPG&width=800) Photo: noebse, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Feuerdorn_%28Pyracantha_coccinea%29.JPG) ## Appearance The Firethorn is a spiky evergreen shrub featuring glossy dark green leaves. In spring, it bursts with clusters of small white flowers, followed by abundant, vibrant red or orange berries that persist through winter, making it stand out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Pyracantha ## Interesting facts - Even after birds eat the berries, the seeds are ready to sprout because they've been 'cleaned'! - Firethorn is so tough, it can grow on walls and fences, creating living green barriers! - It's a plant relative of apples and pears, sharing a surprising family tree! - Its scientific name, Pyracantha, means 'fire thorn' in Greek, perfectly describing its look! ## Special abilities - **Spiky Protector:** Firethorn has sharp thorns that act like a thorny shield, helping it defend against hungry animals trying to eat its leaves. - **Winter Feast Beacon:** Its bright red or orange berries stay on the plant all winter, providing a vital food source for birds when other foods are scarce. - **Evergreen Shelter:** Firethorn keeps its green leaves all year, offering continuous hiding spots and shelter for small birds and insects, even in cold weather. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-500 cm - **Spread:** 150-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-0.8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Eats its nutrient-rich berries in winter, aiding seed dispersal. - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits white flowers to collect nectar and pollen, helping reproduction. - **Shelter:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Uses its dense, thorny branches for safe nesting and roosting. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful around the thorns; they can be sharp! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Firethorn? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Firethorn? 200-500 cm ### How wide does Firethorn spread? 150-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on Firethorn? 0.5-0.8 cm ### When does Firethorn bloom? Spring ### Is Firethorn edible? No ### Is Firethorn toxic? Mild ### What is Firethorn's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Railtown 1897 State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/railtown-1897-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Firethorn: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/firethorn)