Pyracantha navaho

Pyracantha navaho origins and characteristics

Pyracantha navaho is the dwarf version of the normal pyracantha, an evergreen shrub native to Europe and some parts of Asia. The mother species can reach up to three meters in height, while the navaho never exceeds one meter, therefore it is very suitable for creating border barriers under taller plants or low hedges, but still decorative. With us this plant is commonly called dwarf firearm, and it is always the smaller variant of the famous coccineus firearm. Unlike regular pyracantha, navaho also produces tons of orange berries, which pop up when flowering is complete. The flowers are small, white and with pointed petals: they are also very fragrant, in fact they attract many insects, so it is best not to plant this species near doors and windows.

Pyracantha navaho cultivation

The pyracantha navahoit is a plant that does not require special care and its cultivation is quite simple. Also for this reason, as well as for hedges and borders, this dwarf species is also very suitable for filling pots and flower boxes and thus adorning balconies and terraces; it is also widely used to produce original bonsai. The navaho is a round shrub and is also good for creating lively bushes here and there in the garden, perhaps to fill in corners that would otherwise remain empty. Among other things, the fruits that grow in clusters can also be eaten. This species prefers sunny locations that favor flowering, but also does well in partial shade. It is rustic, therefore it resists well to all temperatures and also to pollution and saltiness, an element that makes it cultivable even in seaside areas.

Like all the other varieties of this plant family, even the pyracantha navaho does not need many tricks. However, one very important thing is pruning: in spring it is advisable to remove the oldest branches, those damaged and those that still bear the fruits of the previous year; it is easy to find the fruits born many months before, because these berries last a long time and grow continuously. If the plant is used as a hedge, then it is necessary to intervene even in summer with a containment pruning, which serves precisely to contain the foliage and give it the desired shape. This species is not afraid of drought and should be watered only when it is a young specimen and only when the soil has dried well. Only in the case of bonsai should watering be more regular.

Pyracantha navaho multiplication and variety

To grow the pyracantha navaho at its best, it is always better to provide it, at the base of the shrub, with organic fertilizer or slow release fertilizer in spring, the optimal period for this species. It is very simple to multiply a navaho because it can be done by operating a woody cutting: a sprig of the shrub must be removed in spring or autumn and it must be planted in a well-worked soil rich in humus and, for the first time, regularly irrigated. The pyracantha navaho is often subject to attacks by aphids and cochineal, which could damage it if not promptly intervened. There are many other varieties of this elegant shrub: unlike the navaho which has orange, the red column produces red berries, while the soleil d’or has yellow. There are many hybrids of pyracantha,