Pyracantha atalantioides
Sichuan firethorn
(c) Cheng-Te Hsu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cheng-Te Hsu · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Pyracantha atalantioides (Sichuan firethorn) is a non-native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by glaucous leaf undersides and larger stature.
Sichuan firethorn is a naturalized shrub found in southern California coastal areas and disturbed environments like abandoned fields and roadsides at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces white flowers in clusters with yellow-brown hairy inflorescences. Growing as an erect shrub up to 6 meters tall with yellow-brown stems that become glabrous with age, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are elliptic or oblong, 15 to 40 millimeters long, with a glaucous undersurface and softly pointed tips featuring occasional inconspicuous teeth. The fruit appears as bright red berries approximately 4 to 5 millimeters wide, creating dramatic visual contrast against the shrub's foliage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are glaucous leaf undersides and larger stature
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, abandoned fields, roadsides
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: southeastern United States, native to China
Bloom period
Pyracantha atalantioides blooms Feb-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Heteromeles: Pyracantha has thorns and narrow leaves; toyon lacks thorns and has wider serrated leaves.; vs Cotoneaster: Pyracantha has thorns; Cotoneaster is thornless.; vs Nandina: Pyracantha has simple leaves and thorns; nandina has compound leaves and no thorns.; vs Ceanothus: Pyracantha has thorns and orange-red berries; Ceanothus lacks thorns and has dry capsules.; vs Prunus: Pyracantha has clustered small pome fruits; Prunus has single larger stone fruits per flower.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pyracantha atalantioides native to California?
No. Pyracantha atalantioides is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Pyracantha atalantioides bloom?
Pyracantha atalantioides blooms Feb-Jun.
What plant family does Pyracantha atalantioides belong to?
Pyracantha atalantioides is in the Rosaceae family, genus Pyracantha.
What habitat does Pyracantha atalantioides grow in?
Pyracantha atalantioides grows in Disturbed areas, abandoned fields, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-09
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.