Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Pyracantha Staked
Pyracantha Staked is Graber's firethorn, an evergreen shrub started on a stake for training flat against a wall or fence. Clusters of white flowers open in spring, and bright orange to red berries follow in fall and last into winter. Birds come for the berries. It can also grow into a hedge, barrier or small tree.
Best for: an espalier on a wall or fence, a barrier or hedge, and winter berry color for birds.
It can be espaliered against a wall or fence like a vine. Tie the stems out along wires as it grows, and cut back shoots that grow away from the wall.
Grown as a shrub it reaches about 10 to 12 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. The thorny stems make a hedge, barrier or windbreak.
White spring flowers turn into bright orange to red berries in fall that last into winter. Birds come to eat them.
The stems carry thorns, so wear gloves when you prune. It needs regular water in the desert. Aphids and spider mites show up now and then.
- Hedge or screen3 ft apart
Water every 3 to 4 days for the first two weeks. Then stretch the gaps step by step, to about every 10 to 14 days by the second month.
In the desert it needs regular deep water through summer. Water less often in winter.
Prune new growth in mid spring after it flowers. Trim lightly again in early to mid fall to show the berries. Wear gloves for the thorns.
Tie the main stems flat along wires on a wall or fence. Cut back shoots that grow straight out from the wall.
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.
Can I grow it flat against a wall?
Yes. Pyracantha is a classic espalier. Tie the stems to wires on the wall as it grows, and prune off shoots that grow straight out.
How big does it get?
Grown as a shrub, it reaches about 10 to 12 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. It starts slow, then grows fast once it is rooted.
When does it bloom and fruit?
Clusters of white flowers open in spring. Bright 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.
When should I prune it?
Prune new growth in mid spring after it flowers. A second light trim in early to mid fall shows off the berries. Wear gloves for the thorns.
Does it have thorns?
Yes. The stems carry thorns, so wear gloves and long sleeves to prune. Keep it back from walkways.
Does it attract birds?
Yes. Birds eat the orange to red berries through fall and winter, so leave some on if you enjoy watching them.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated to about 10°F, so Valley winters are no problem.
What pests bother it?
Aphids and spider mites show up now and then. Hose them off with a strong spray of water.
Pyracantha Staked for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Pyracantha Staked is Graber's firethorn, an evergreen shrub trained on a stake for espaliers. This page covers training it on a wall, water, pruning for berries, cold and what to expect in a Valley yard.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Pyracantha as an espalier
Pyracantha grows flat against a wall or fence when you tie it along wires. The staked form gives a head start on that shape.
How big does pyracantha get?
As a shrub it grows about 10 to 12 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. It starts slow, then grows fast once rooted.
Pyracantha berries
White spring flowers are followed by bright orange to red berries in fall that last into winter, and birds eat them.
When to prune pyracantha
Prune new growth in mid spring after flowering, then lightly in early to mid fall to show the berries.
Watering pyracantha in Phoenix
It needs regular deep water through the desert summer and less in winter.
Is pyracantha cold hardy?
Yes. It is rated to about 10°F, so a Valley winter will not hurt it.
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.