AusBonsai

Hi Folks,

I bought myself a little Firethorn (pyracantha) seedling at a nursery the other day, to add to my collection. After some investigation on the net later that day, I discovered that some pyracantha are considered a pest/weed in Australia.

http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedide ... l&card=S25

I'm not sure which pyracantha I have yet but I was hoping someone might have a little more information on this. Are there certain species I should look out for and avoid?

G'day R.D there are many weeds in Aust that are considered invasive but, that being said, they all make bloody good Bonsai Our responsibility as Bonsai enthusiasts is to make sure we keep them contained to a pot and dont let them get away into the wild. Digging them up in the wild helps keep em under control, a little anyway.

I too have many, what are considered noxious weeds in the form of small leaf privet. They make great bonsai. I am just careful when disposing of prunings and while none of mine have yet flowered, when and if they do I will be careful to make sure they do not seed. Enjoy your firethorn, I have heard they also make good bonsai.

Regards

Steve W

Thanks guys,

I'm looking forward to developing a great bonsai from it too. Seen a few good pictures of other firethorn so cant wait to make my own.

I've heard that birds can carry off the berries and cause them to spread that way. Just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing and not potentially spreading a noxious weed in my area.

... what makes them weeds is that they grow fast in certain environments, often out growing and reproducing faster than the native species around them: this (fast growing) is usually a good attribute for bonsai material to have (not sure how fast growing Pyracantha is? but it's asset is it's little red berries - these shrubs/trees are everywhere in suburban Melbourne) ... good luck

If you purchased from a nursery than it would probably be called 'little ruby' these are not on the noxious weed list.
I have a pyracantha which I dug from the bush, its a lovely tree and is a noxious weed.

Mick

Handy Mick wrote:If you purchased from a nursery than it would probably be called 'little ruby' these are not on the noxious weed list.
I have a pyracantha which I dug from the bush, its a lovely tree and is a noxious weed.

Mick

Hey Mick, in Bonsai nurseries, at least down here, 'Little Ruby' is the name given to a small leaf variety of PJ fig

Certainly used for pyracantha here and probably for a dozen other varieties of plant aswell.
I think the bonsai starters I seen with this name in my local nursery had a bonsai environment tag in it.

Mick

Handy Mick wrote:
If you purchased from a nursery than it would probably be called 'little ruby' these are not on the noxious weed list.
I have a pyracantha which I dug from the bush, its a lovely tree and is a noxious weed.

Mick

Hi Mick,
Does this 'little ruby' have any particular features and/or colouring which would help identify it from other species. Once it starts to flower it might help me determine which pyracantha I have.

There is a dwarf cultivar that is said to be sterile. I think it might even be prostrate, not sure. Did it have a tag? What is its scientific name/cultivar name? What height does it get?

The straight species is definitely a weed but, as said, can be kept if you are responsible.

Joel

No, not sure dragon, as I said I have the weed type.

Mick

Unfortunately no other information or details on the tag beside pyracantha and Firethorn.

Guess I wait and see what develops.

Reddragon wrote:Unfortunately no other information or details on the tag beside pyracantha and Firethorn.

Guess I wait and see what develops.

This may help ... http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/b/Rosa ... tivar/0/#b
Mick, there is a variety on there called 'Ruby Mound'?

Quite some time ago I bought a pyracantha and from memory it was called Red Ruby. It is a grafted tree and has been through some changes over the years I have had it. I let it flower every year and fruit, however I don't let the fruit "escape". I'm not sure if the fruit are sterile or not, but I don't take the chance.
Right now the fruit is just starting to turn red and over the next few weeks it will be a red and green picture. Does this look like yours?

Oops, forgot to attach the photo.