Jane Weber Main

Jane Weber

JANE'S GARDEN

An exotic evergreen shrub that has masses of bright, scarlet-red berry-fruits in late fall is scarlet firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea). Native from southeastern Europe to the Caucasus Mountains of western Asia, this frost- and freeze-tolerant species grows well in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9.

The seven species in the Pyracantha genus are in the rose family, Rosaceae. Pyracanthas have thorns on their stems. There are attractive mature specimens along the drive into Rainbow Springs State Park, north of Dunnellon. The name Pyracantha comes from the Greek words “pyr” for fire and “akanthus,” meaning thorn. The seven pyracanthas range naturally from southeast Europe to Asia and have naturalized and escaped from cultivation in temperate regions globally, but are not considered invasive in Florida.

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