Firethorn
Pyracantha
An ornamental plant, planted September to February.
In September: nothing to do. It can be planted now. Wear thick gloves to prune it: the thorns are long and very sharp.
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Firethorn, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown firethorn. | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Feed the firethorn. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Mulch the firethorn. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Prune the firethorn. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Handle it with care
Wear thick gloves to prune it: the thorns are long and very sharp.
Strong source: RHS.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown firethorn September to February, 1.5 to 3m apart. Moderate source: RHS.
Feed the firethorn
Use a general fertiliser, and mulch with organic matter.
Usually February to March. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Mulch the firethorn
Spread 5-7.5cm of leaf mould, garden compost or well-rotted manure, kept clear of the stems.
Usually March to May. Moderate source: RHS.
Prune the firethorn
Cut back shoots growing outwards, and shorten other growth only as needed.
Usually April. Moderate source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
What not to do
Don’t clip the whole plant if you want berries
Shorten the sideshoots instead, so the berries are left on.
Moderate source: RHS.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Firethorn” comes from.