How big does Firethorn grow?

About 3 m × 2.5 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 1.8–5.5 m × 1.8–5.5 m.

What soil does Firethorn grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). In the colder parts of the country (Podlaskie Voivodeship) it may not survive winter without protection.

Is Firethorn toxic to children?

Yes, it is mildly toxic to children.

How far from the house should Firethorn be planted?

Plant it at least 4 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Firethorn be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1.5 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 3 plants per metre.

How much water does Firethorn need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: high.

Firethorn

Pyracantha coccinea

Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) is a shrub that reaches 3 m × 2.5 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Mildly toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about PLN 24.

Illustration of Firethorn — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A dense, fiercely thorny evergreen shrub with clusters of white flowers in late spring and masses of red or orange berries from autumn to late winter, much loved by birds. It grows fast and copes well with drought and clipping, so it makes an impenetrable security hedge or a good wall shrub. Always wear thick gloves when pruning and keep it away from paths and play areas, because the thorns are seriously sharp.

Watch out for

In Central Europe two diseases really matter. Scab blackens leaves and berries, and older varieties can lose much of their foliage by late summer. Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) is a dangerous bacterial disease: shoot tips suddenly turn brown as if scorched, and the infection can spread to apple, pear and quince, so near fruit trees plant only resistant varieties. In hard winters without snow cover the foliage may brown or partly drop and shoots can die back, but the shrub usually resprouts in spring. Firethorn leaf miner and aphids may appear on the leaves; they are mostly cosmetic.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 2.5 m
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–June, white

All details

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2.5 m
Ultimate size	1.8–5.5 m × 1.8–5.5 m
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	May–June, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 4 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	150 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic
Typical price	from about PLN 24

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. PLN 24

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 26, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant shrubs Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Hedge plants Evergreen hedge plants Plants for screening Evergreen plants Shrubs for pollinators Plants for a Mediterranean garden

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

Planting a hedge: how many plants per metre, and what it costs Most hedge plants go in at 2-4 plants per metre: Leyland cypress 2, cherry laurel and photinia 2.5 (40 cm apart), yew 3, hornbeam 3.5, privet and beech 4. The plants go in one row, 80 cm from the fence, in autumn or early spring. What the hedge costs depends most on the size of the plants: the table works it out at today's shop prices in your country, for the length of your own hedge.

Compare with similar plants

Firethorn vs Holly osmanthus Firethorn vs Laurustinus

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