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It is widespread in northwestern Africa (Algeria, Morocco) in the area of the Atlas and Rif mountains, from 1000 to 2000 m above sea level. It was introduced to Europe in the first part of the 19th century.
Habitus: evergreen shrub. It grows up to 4 meters in height and width. They are covered with short and very prickly thorns that are about 1-1.5 cm long. The root system is well developed.
Flower: bisexual, monoecious, small, about 8 mm in diameter, they have 5 white petals, they are collected in dense spike-like inflorescences about 2-4 cm wide. They bloom profusely in May and June, and are created mainly on two-year-old branches.
Leaf: alternate, elongated and ovoid, 2-4 cm long, about 1.5 cm wide, leathery, bare and shiny, with slightly jagged edges, dark green on the face, lighter on the reverse.
It prefers well-drained, moist soil and a sunny location, although it will also grow well in semi-shade. It is resistant to low temperatures down to -20°C and tolerates urban pollution well.
It is also grown as an ornamental plant in yards and parks. It is believed that fire thorn has been cultivated as a decorative shrub since the 16th century. It can be grown as a hedge or along a wall and can be pruned into the desired shape as needed.
The fruits are mealy, bitter, astringent and tasteless, they are not edible in their raw state, but they can be cooked and made into jam.
It is propagated by semi-wooden cuttings in mid-summer, which are cut to a length of 10-20 cm and placed in a mixture of compost and a little sand for better drainage. It can be propagated by seed, which requires cold stratification, but as the firethorn plants around us are often cultivars, the plant will probably not grow the same as the mother plant.
P. coccinea ‘Kasan’
P. coccinea ‘Lalandei’
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