The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Common name: Scarlet Firethorn, פירקנתה אדומה, פירקנתה אדומה

Family: Rosaceae (Rose)

Synonym: Cotoneaster pyracantha

Distribution: Southern Europe, Black Sea and SW Iran

Habitat: Grows in a variety of soils, in sunny or semi-sunny conditions

Hardiness: Central & north Israel mts

Description: Evergreen shrub, height up to 3m, width up to 4m. Has long needle-like thorns. The leaves are obovate-elliptic, 2-4cm X 1-1.5cm, and glabrous. The flowers are white, grow in dense clusters, each flower has 5 petals and numerous stamens. The plant is pollinated mostly by bees. The fruits are small red-orange berries, 1-2 cm. The shrub is adapted for seed dispersal by birds – the ripe fruit remains on the branches to ease the birds' access to them.