Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ – A Compact Shrub with Vibrant Red Berries and Seasonal Beauty
Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ is a striking, compact evergreen shrub known for its vibrant red berries, glossy green foliage, and year-round appeal. Typically reaching a height of 1.5 to 2.5 metres , this variety is perfect for smaller gardens, hedges, or mixed plantings. In spring, the shrub is covered in clusters of small, fragrant white flowers, which are followed by an abundance of brilliant red berries in late summer and autumn. The bright berries persist into the winter, providing both colour and wildlife benefits when other plants have faded. With its dense, thorny branches, Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ is also an excellent choice for security planting or creating a natural hedge.
Why Grow Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’?
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Vibrant Red Berries – One of the most standout features of Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ is its dazzling red berries, which appear in late summer and continue to shine into the winter. These berries provide a pop of colour in the garden when most other plants have finished blooming, attracting birds and offering visual interest in colder months.
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Fragrant Spring Flowers – In spring, Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ produces abundant clusters of small white flowers that release a subtle fragrance. These blooms are a welcome sight early in the season and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, adding to the garden’s biodiversity.
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Compact & Dense Growth – Reaching a height of 1.5 to 2.5 metres, ‘Red Sapphire’ is a compact variety of Pyracantha, making it ideal for smaller gardens, as a low hedge, or in containers. Its dense, evergreen foliage provides structure to the garden, and its spiny branches make it an excellent choice for a security plant.
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Evergreen Foliage – The shrub’s glossy, dark green leaves are evergreen, providing a tidy, attractive appearance throughout the year. The foliage contrasts beautifully with the red berries in the autumn and winter, making it an appealing plant in all seasons.
Planting & Care Guide
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Position: Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ thrives in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. For optimal berry production and flowering, plant it in a sunny spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. In shadier areas, the plant will still grow but may produce fewer berries and flowers.
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Soil: Pyracantha is adaptable to a range of soil types, including sandy, loamy, or clay soils, as long as they are well-drained. It prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil, but it can tolerate a variety of pH levels. Ensure the soil does not remain soggy, as excess moisture can cause root rot.
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Watering: Water regularly when newly planted to help the plant establish a strong root system. Once established, ‘Red Sapphire’ is moderately drought-tolerant but benefits from regular watering during dry spells. Ensure good drainage around the roots to avoid waterlogging.
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Maintenance:
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Pruning: Pyracantha benefits from regular pruning to maintain its shape and encourage vigorous growth. Prune the shrub after flowering to remove dead or damaged branches and to encourage healthy new growth. For hedging, prune in late winter or early spring to keep the plant compact and tidy.
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Feeding: ‘Red Sapphire’ doesn’t require heavy feeding, but a light application of balanced fertiliser in early spring will help promote healthy growth and abundant flowering. Over-fertilising can result in excessive leaf growth at the expense of berries.
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Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Be careful not to pile the mulch against the stem, as this can cause rot.
Perfect Plant Combinations
Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ is an incredibly versatile shrub that can be paired with a wide variety of plants to enhance the beauty of your garden. For a striking contrast, plant it with silvery or variegated foliage plants, such as Lavender, Artemisia, or Silver Mound. These plants' softer tones highlight the rich red of the berries and provide a beautiful contrast to the dark green leaves.
In mixed borders, ‘Red Sapphire’ pairs beautifully with early-spring blooming bulbs such as Daffodils, Crocus, and Snowdrops, providing a fresh, vibrant backdrop for these early blooms. It also works well with other flowering shrubs, such as Forsythia or Spiraea, where the combination of spring flowers and fall berries creates a dynamic and colourful seasonal progression.
For a wildlife-friendly garden, combine Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ with other berry-producing shrubs such as Cotoneaster or Holly (Ilex), which provide food and shelter for birds in autumn and winter. The combination of berries across various shrubs will enhance the wildlife value of your garden.
Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ also looks great in containers, especially when paired with trailing plants like Ivy or smaller perennials like Heuchera or Ajuga. These plants provide a contrast in texture and colour while allowing the compact form of Pyracantha to shine.
Whether used as a specimen shrub, a hedge, or in containers, Pyracantha ‘Red Sapphire’ will bring year-round interest to your garden with its vibrant red berries, fragrant spring flowers, and glossy evergreen foliage. This hardy, low-maintenance shrub offers structure, seasonal beauty, and wildlife value to any landscape.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
