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ID

StaceyjStaceyj Posts: 62
in Plants
Hello everyone.
Can anyone help with an id. for this plant please?
It was planted a few years ago but have lost the label. It's prickly and seems to be growing out rather than up with almost arching side stems. 
Should I prune these stems back to force it upwards, tie it to a larger and stronger support or something else?
Many thanks in advance and hope.



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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Photo?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • StaceyjStaceyj Posts: 62

  • StaceyjStaceyj Posts: 62
    edited May 2020
    Sorry, #technophobe...didn't attach properly!! Hope that worked!!
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    pyrancantha
    Devon.
  • rebeccamM6CA_Gn6rebeccamM6CA_Gn6 Posts: 133
    @Staceyj Has it got spiky thorny bits?
  • StaceyjStaceyj Posts: 62
    Yes it has Rebeccam...very spiky!
  • StaceyjStaceyj Posts: 62
    So if it's pyracantha and is in the middle of a bed as it is, can I prune it? ...and if I do, will it grow taller?
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It's best up against something but you can prune it into a free-standing shape. It will get quite high if you let it.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • OwlbearOwlbear Posts: 49
    edited May 2020
    As the others have said, they can be tricky to prune just due to the thorns, so wear some good thick gloves and just generally be careful. 

    In terms of how it grows, if you just leave it alone it should grow into a large shrub (3-4 metre tall and wide), it just takes a while to do it. I know some people train them against walls/fences. I'm sure there are probably more detailed instructions somewhere but they're generally pretty tough so can withstand some fairly brutal pruning if need be. The only thing to really be aware of (other than the thorns) is that it flowers on the previous years growth, so by pruning you're cutting off the next years flowers/berries.



  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Love them. They can be clipped as cloud hedging too, if you have the skill.

    Covered in flowers in late spring/early summer, and berries for the birds in autumn. I have two orange ones, which are going to be stunning in a few weeks when the flowers all open, and they'll be covered in bees and hoverflies.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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