pyrecantha

We had a beautiful pyracantha when living in California,,, I love the red berries,,,,,,now I would like to try one here in the sandy soil and humidity. I found several different varieties and they all seem to say they would grow. Does anyone have a suggestion as to which one to try? If you do,,,,,,,,thanks. We are in Southport, close to the South Carolina border, near the coast,,,,,zone 8.

There are many here in my sandy soil/high humidity area, so I finally took the plunge and got one. It's doing beautifully and I can get its name if you'd like to know. I just bought it 'cuz I saw it for only $14 and it looked really good.

I really would check with a good nursery store rather than the big chain stores garden departments before I purchased one that close to the salt air.

I love Southport. We have friends with a home on Bald Head, so drive through there once in a while.

Try a cultivar called Mohave. I recently planted on in what I affectionately call the "death spot" in my yard ( it almost killed an arrowwood????) I planted in February and it had nice white flowers this spring and has shown growth. I'm still waiting on the berries though....

Thanks, I did purchase a Mohave,,,,it is just sitting there, looking like it did a month ago. No signs of growth, but then it hasn't died either,,,so that is a good thing. We'll see. I know once they do start to grown, they go really fast, and the berries are beautiful.........I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It rains so much more here, I don't know if that is a factor.

You're probably aware that many shrubs (and trees, too) are busy putting down their roots for the first several months. When we first planted our three Thujas, I thought how exaggerated the claims of very fast growth were, but after a year, the growth began to be much faster.

baileynboo, how's your pyracantha? I agree with Fleurs that sometimes it can take a year to establish a good root system. Don't give up on it yet.

C-blue,,,thanks for asking,,it starting to grow just a bit. I have been watering it vigorously, and it seems to be holding it's own. I've learned that water seems to be the salvation for everything here in the sand. If you miss a day everything is just drooped to the point where you think they might not make it. Living on the Ca. coast for the past 5 years spoiled me for weather,,,,sometimes the heat and humidity here in NC take your breath away. Everyone tells me you grow used to it,,,,,,I'm trying.

baileynboo- know what you mean. I moved here from PA 20 years ago and couldn't take the outdoors for more than 10 minutes at a time. It does take a bout 2 years or so to acclimate. Glad to hear your pyracantha is finally taking off. Mine now has some little green berries!

Pyrecantha jelly:

1 full pint ripe pyrecantha berries (use more to taste, up to 2/3 quart for strong pyrecantha taste)
2 pints water
Juice of 1 small grapefruit
Juice of 1 small lemon
1 pkg powdered pectin
5 1/2 cups sugar

Boil berries in water, covered, for 10 minutes. Add juices. Strain juice. Take 4 1/2 cups of it, add pectin and boil. Add sugar and boil until it gets thick, about 4 to 5 minutes. Pour into sterile jars and seal.