Description

A broadleaf evergreen member of the rose family prized for its brilliant orange-red fruit in fall lasting through winter, very showy, also bears smallish white flowers in spring; needs full sun and well-drained soil, can be susceptible to fireblight

Landscape Attributes

Rutgers Scarlet Firethorn is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

Rutgers Scarlet Firethorn is recommended for the following landscape applications;

Planting & Growing

Rutgers Scarlet Firethorn will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.