Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Pyracantha Espalier
Pyracantha Espalier is Graber's firethorn already trained flat, one of the classic shrubs for an espalier on a bare wall. Clusters of white flowers open in spring, and orange to red berries follow in fall and hang on into winter. Its evergreen leaves keep the pattern green all year. Birds come for the berries.
Best for: dressing up a bare wall with a flat, formal pattern, fall and winter berry color, and birds that eat the berries.
Pyracantha is one of the traditional espalier plants, and its stiff branches hold a flat pattern well. Tie the main branches along wires and it turns a bare wall into a feature.
After white spring flowers, orange to red berries cover the branches in fall and last into winter. Birds eat them, so leave some on.
The small, glossy leaves stay on all year, so the pattern stays green in every season. Trained flat, it fits a narrow bed along a wall.
The stems carry sharp thorns, so keep it back from walkways and wear gloves to prune. In the Valley it needs regular deep water through summer.
- Hedge or screen3 ft apart
Tie the main branches flat along wires or a trellis a few inches off the wall, using soft plant tape. Cut back shoots that grow straight out or past the pattern.
Prune new growth in mid spring after the flowers. A light trim in early to mid fall shows off the berries. Wear gloves for the thorns.
Water every 3 to 4 days at first, easing to every 10 to 14 days by the second month. Once rooted, give it regular deep water through summer and less in winter.
Aphids and spider mites show up now and then. Hose them off with a strong spray of water.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Is pyracantha good for espalier?
Yes. It is one of the classic espalier plants. Tie the main branches flat along wires or a trellis and prune off shoots that grow straight out.
When should I prune it?
Prune the new growth in mid spring after it flowers. A light trim in early to mid fall shows off the berries, so wear gloves for both.
When does it flower and fruit?
White flowers open in spring. Orange to red berries follow in fall and hold into winter.
How much water does it need?
In the Valley it needs regular deep water through summer. Water less often in winter.
Does it have thorns?
Yes. The stems carry thorns, so wear gloves and long sleeves when you train or prune it. Keep it back from walkways.
How big does it get?
Grown free, it reaches about 10 to 12 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. As an espalier you keep it flat and trim it to the space on your wall.
Do birds eat the berries?
Yes. Birds eat the berries through fall and winter, so leave some on if you enjoy them.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated to about 10°F, so Valley winters are no problem.
Pyracantha Espalier for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Pyracantha Espalier is firethorn started flat, a traditional choice for training on a wall. Below: training and pruning, berries, water, thorns, size and cold.
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Pyracantha espalier in Phoenix
Firethorn is a classic espalier plant. Tie its branches flat along wires on a wall and trim off shoots that grow straight out.
When to prune pyracantha espalier
Prune the new growth in mid spring after it flowers, with a light fall trim to show the berries.
Pyracantha berries
Orange to red berries follow the spring flowers and hold into winter, and birds eat them.
Watering pyracantha
In the Valley it needs regular deep water through summer and less in winter.
Pyracantha thorns
The stems have thorns, so wear gloves and long sleeves to train and prune it.
Is pyracantha cold hardy?
It is rated to about 10°F, so Valley winters are not a problem.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.