Santa Cruz Pyracantha is a medium to large shrub especially noted for its prolific display of red berries in late fall and winter. A bush variety, Santa Cruz can be trimmed as a hedge or shaped. The natural growth pattern is around waist-high and twice as wide at maturity.
Pyracantha needs plenty of water the first summer and, once established, prefers deep, infrequent soaking in well-drained soil.
Pyracantha has thorns placed behind leaves on the stems. There is an oily residue that will leave no doubt why they are called Firethorn.