Genus: Pyracantha

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid I > Order: Rosales > Family: Rosaceae

bout nine species, native to SE Europe, Caucasus, NW Iran and China. Grown in gardens for their attractive, non-edible berries. Three species have become naturalised in southern Africa and a further four species are cultivated in the region.

Cotoneaster berries look similar but the leaves of Cotoneaster are broader.

Species naturalised in southern Africa

List from Plants of southern Africa - an online checklist (SANBI) and Flora of Zimbabwe.

Pyracantha angustifolia (Yellow fire-thorn, Geelbranddoring) Native to western China. A declared Category 3 invader plants in South Africa.
Pyracantha coccinea (Red fire-thorn) Native from SE Europe to the Caucasus.
Pyracantha crenulata (Himalayan fire-thorn, Rooivuurdoring) Native from India to China. A declared Category 3 invader plants in South Africa. See Flora of Zimbabwe.

Other species, cultivated in southern Africa

List from Glen (2002).

Publications

• Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.