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Position of a Pyracantha

DorcascentsDorcascents Posts: 132
in Plants
I have cleared a corner of our walled town garden.The wall is stone at the bottom and brick above,I am looking to make it into a seating area with 2 seats, but as the wall is old and the brick section not good to look at.I wondered if a Pyracantha would be suitable. The cleared area is not overly big.it is the corner angle. 4ft being from the corner to the edge of the lawn.For years we had a tall seat there with a clematis climbing over it , but it became too large and not doing very well. We had many birds visiting that corner, so  that was my reason for a pyracantha. Maybe in a planter and train it along a trellis.Your advice would be very welcome  
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It would certainly be fine, but would you mind sitting so near it when it's rather sharp?
    I don't know how well it would do in a container though. 
    Is there a reason you don't want to try another clematis - perhaps a different variety from the one you had?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    It does seem a small area to put a pyracantha you'll be sitting close to. As @Fairygirlsays, the thorns are sharp, and they inflict a painful wound. I have a pyracantha that barely flowered and because of its situation I keep it tightly clipped. Its value to birds is for roosting and it's always used as a nesting site.
    It was here when we came. I wouldn't plant one myself as they are so wickedly thorny to prune, and dispose of the trimmings.
  • DorcascentsDorcascents Posts: 132
    Hi Woodgreen, Thank you for your advice, i had a hunch that would be the case so i will have a rethink. Fairygirl Thank you also for your advice. The reason  i removed the clematis was it just looked dead in the winter when i looked out from my kitchen window, as well as it only having flowers for short time. I do have 5 other clematis  on frames and trellis. I were thinking of something different, something with colour and interest year round. especially i winter. Something scented and something for the birds. I do have a beautiful rose growing along the wall to left of the seating area,but it is only 2years in this position after moving it. It the Mme Gregoire Stachelin rose, which i have had advice from yourselves before as it was a gift. I  have considered a jasmine but not really sure if it will colourful enough. Any suggestions  would be welcome. Thank you in advance

  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    You’ve got several different kinds of goal in mind, so the best thing might be to decide on your priorities first. For structure, berries and autumn colour you could consider Cotoneaster horizontalis. But if what you want is a romantic flowery corner then I’d combine a climbing rose and something else like a Viticella clematis or honeysuckle. It depends on your total area to cover. If it’s as small as it sounds from your description then you you could even go for a shrub rose like St Ethelburga or Cornelia, which can be used as short climbers, or Ghislaine de Féligonde. If your main concern is for something evergreen in that space, then things like Lonicera ‘Copper Beauty’ or Pileostegia viburnioides would be beautiful. Climbing Hydrangea would envelop the wall slowly, and if you have mild conditions there then Hydrangea seemannii is lovely. I wouldn’t advise Clematis armandii, Akebia quinata or any other large climber there. Trachelospermum jasminoides is a wonderful evergreen climber with scented flowers in May and June. One that’s often recommended, Lonicera halliana, gets unsightly fungal infections, so is best avoided. 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    A picture would be handy,rough size and aspect of garden,and general area you live in.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Does it have to be in a container?
    It's not going to be easy having something to suit all your wants, as @Cambridgerose12 says.
    Cotoneaster can be trained along and around areas, and the evergreen ones are useful, but it isn't scented. Perhaps you could add scent for summer  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    I agree with  Cambridgerose and Fairygirl, it's down to priorities. 
    The scented rose and late flowering clematis idea sounds lovely, if there's enough space.
    Then if you have plants elsewhere suitable for nesting sites or for birds to feed on you won't disturb them when using your seating area.
  • DorcascentsDorcascents Posts: 132
    Woodgreen, Fairygirl thank you for your advice and Cambridgerose12 Thank you  for all your helpful suggestions. I will look them up and take it from there.Nanny Beach i will try and upload a photograph, which i should have done in the beginning
  • DorcascentsDorcascents Posts: 132
    sorry posted wrong photo
  • DorcascentsDorcascents Posts: 132

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