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Pyracantha Growing Conditions

Jay TeaJay Tea Posts: 27
in Plants

Hello. I have for sometime really wanted to grow a pyracantha up the wall near my front door, many nearby houses have them so I know the local soil must be ok for them but I do have a question regarding shade. All teh descriptions mention the fact that Pyracantha have less berries in shade but never having grown one, I have no frame of reference. Some Pyracantha I've seen have almost too many berries so I wouldn't mind it if I got slightly less. The location is a very sheltered north-facing wall. It is in shade for all but the very early am in summer but the shade is very light (1 couple of feet in front of the area is VERY sunny and some of the sun-loving plants have seeded into the shaded area and grown fine). So I have two questions:

1) how severely are berries reduced if grown is a slightly shady area (I'm sure in the past i've seen people growing this shrub in similar conditions but that was some time ago so I don't remember) ?

2) are there any cultivars which tolerate shade better than average ?

Thanks in advance.

Jay

Posts

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    Keep the pyracantha well away from your front door. If you get a thorn in your hand it will go bad. Wear thick gloves when you prune it. They are pretty vigorous, but well worth growing.



    Do a bit of research because the berries come in various colours. Choose one you like. Yellow, red, orange.
  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    I have an orange pyracantha in my front garden next to the house, in shade. It gets a tiny bit of sun in the morning, and then from 2pm onwards when the sun moves round. It is always covered in flowers and then berries, but they don't last long once the blackbirds find them.

  • Jay TeaJay Tea Posts: 27

    Thanks !

  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    Jay tea if you grow it under the window as well you might not be able to cleen it but a good barrier for theifsimage
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

    I must be tough! At my previous house I grew one between the two windows and trained it below them, up the middle and then above. I rarely pruned anything off, just wove the new branches in amongst the others. It was in almost complete shade and berried beautifully every year and kept its berries too. And in those days I don't think I owned any gardening gloves!

  • Lou12Lou12 Posts: 1,149

    I've grown pyracantha in almost every awkard spot, up against shady walls etc and it always does very well.

     

  • Jay TeaJay Tea Posts: 27

    Thanks, that all sounds most encouraging

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Like some of the others, I had one in a north facing corner - never had any sun at all and had loads of berries which the birds loved at this time of year.

    So, in other words, Jay - they'll grow and berry anywhere, but perform at their best with a bit more sun and an open position image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Jay TeaJay Tea Posts: 27

    Thanks everyone, that all sounds great.

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