States
North CarolinaTennesseeGeorgiaSouth CarolinaKentuckyAlabamaFloridaVirginia
Menu

Formosa Firethorn

Pyracantha koidzumii

Found in planted, escaped to woodlands, roadsides, open disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

—
Not native

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height
8–18 feet
Spread
8–12 feet
Light
Full sun
Soil moisture
Dry to moist
See native alternatives

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Sparkleberry
    Vaccinium arboreum

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: White.

    Similar height, spread, evergreen or deciduous

  • American Hazelnut
    Corylus americana

    Sun: Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Green, red or white.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Virginia Sweetspire
    Itea virginica

    Sun: Dappled sunlight, Partial shade. Soil: Moist to standing water. Flowers: White.

    Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, flower color

Refine these alternatives in the finder

Check a whole list of plants

At a glance

Leaves
Semi-evergreen or evergreen
Bloom
February to May

Not yet recorded · Life cycle

Recorded in 21 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

14CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Pyracantha

  • Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
  • Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
  • Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
  • Automeris ioIo Moth
  • Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
  • Cryptothelea gloveriiOrange Bagworm
  • Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
  • Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
  • Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
  • Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
Show all 14
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Zale lunataLunate Zale
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Rosaceae
Hardiness
Zones 8a–10b
Soil pH
Acidic or alkaline
Flower color
White

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Conservation status

Alabama rankNot available
Global rankGNR
AL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources