PYRACANTHA 'Navaho'

Elegant and robust variety of Pyracantha, perennial and evergreen shrub, with a medium growth rate and expansive posture, native to North America: at its maximum development, it can grow 2 m tall and a little less large. Branched and lignified from the base, it has stems with a thin terminal thorn that from an initial erect trend, stretching and branching repeatedly, tend to spread apart making it take on an open appearance. On these, there are, alternately and dense, thin, glabrous leaves, lanceolate with smooth edges and obtuse apex, strong dark green above and paler green below. In spring, large hemispherical inflorescences appear on the apical parts of the branches, dense with small white flowers, desired by bees and various insects: these are followed in autumn, and persist throughout the winter, by abundant clusters of orange-red spherical berries, highly sought after by birds.

Suitable to any type of soil, although it prefers the more humid and fresh ones; it grows well in full sun or at most in limited shade. It bears short periods of drought, but takes advantage of constant, periodic wetting in summer: it hardly tolerates the brackish winds of coastal areas, where therefore it is necessary to choose a sheltered position; withstands winter temperatures of various degrees below zero. In autumn, it can be useful to intervene eliminating dry, damaged or cluttered parts and topping the various stems to restore an orderly shape to the plant and favor its thickening, flowering and therefore the subsequent fruiting. Suitable for terraces and balconies in large pots and containers, in the ground in the garden it is used both to create a large isolated spot and to create beautiful evergreen hedges.