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Pyracantha (thorn-less)

Pyracantha sp.

Photo by Geodialist
Published on Project Noah
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38.7494, -77.0748

Field Notes

Description:

Thorn-less bush, ~6-8' tall, bursting with ripe red berries. My sincere thanks to Karen and Ashley for their species ID suggestions! At this point I'm convinced the plant is a member of the genus Pyracantha, although I'm not sure of the species.

Habitat:

Landscape planting in Hollin Hills, a residential community located in Fairfax County, Virginia USA.

Notes:

© Copyright 2011 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved. www.wsanford.com

Reference Links:

Pyracantha

Species ID Suggestions

Firethorn

Pyracantha

Reference Link
KarenL
3

Comments (9)
alicelongmartin
Beautiful picture, I hope to see some of this in VA this coming week when we visit my daughter there.
Geodialist
You inspired me to post a follow-up spotting. Thanks, ladies! http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7544382
KarenL
I have discovered that there is a practically thornless cultivar - Pyracantha 'Watereri', that has crimson berries so I would imagine that this is the prime suspect here! It's been a useful exercise for me as I really wanted to plant a pyracantha to screen our AC units but didn't want anything thorny as we need access - now I have an ideal solution thanks to you!
Geodialist
Hey Karen! I revisited the red berry plant yesterday. Turns out it is completely thorn-less. On the walk home, I discovered a similar-looking plant, with ~1 inch long thorns, that the home owner confirmed is a Pyracantha. Do these observations cause you to reconsider your species ID suggestion? (FWIW, I shot photos of both plants.)
KarenL
Glad to help Geodialist! Some cultivars are thornier than others but all have thorns! The blackbirds in my garden in england loved this shrub - it provided a really safe nest site & they used to strip all the berries off as soon as they ripened! Ashley, ha ha - yes I am sneaky like that! :)
AshleyBradford
That's definitely Pyracantha - check this photo: http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2005/12/12/firethorn-pyracantha-berries/ And Pyrancantha is called "Firethorn" for a reason. ;-)
Geodialist
Thanks for the quick response, KarenL! I didn't notice any thorns ... I'll double-check later today. Is the plant more likely to be Pyracantha if it's thornless?
AshleyBradford
Hah - while I was away trying to remember the name of this, I see Karen snuck in and got to it first. Yes, I concur - the leaves and berries both look right.
KarenL
Looks like firethorn (pyracantha) - do you remember if it had thorns?

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Fruiting Bodies of the World

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Photographed
PublishedOctober 14, 2011

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