Pyracantha crenulata
Himalayan or nepal firethorn, Himalayan Firethorn
(c) Shaun Swanepoel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Shaun Swanepoel · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Pyracantha crenulata (Himalayan or nepal firethorn) is a non-native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by narrow leaves with many teeth and larger fruits.
Himalayan firethorn is a naturalized shrub found in San Francisco Bay and San Bernardino Mountains on canyon slopes and disturbed ground at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces white flowers in clusters with multiple blossoms. Growing as an erect shrub up to 6 meters tall with rusty-hairy stems that become smoother with age, it develops distinctive narrow oblong-elliptic leaves 20 to 50 millimeters long with numerous small teeth. Its leaves are slightly hairy underneath when young, becoming glabrous as they mature, with generally acute tips. The fruit is a bright red berry approximately 5 to 8 millimeters wide, providing attractive ornamental value.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are narrow leaves with many teeth and larger fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyon slopes, disturbed ground
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: native to Asia
Bloom period
Pyracantha crenulata blooms Feb-Jun.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
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 crenulata native to California?
No. Pyracantha crenulata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Pyracantha crenulata bloom?
Pyracantha crenulata blooms Feb-Jun.
What plant family does Pyracantha crenulata belong to?
Pyracantha crenulata is in the Rosaceae family, genus Pyracantha.
Is Pyracantha crenulata invasive in California?
Pyracantha crenulata is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Pyracantha crenulata grow in?
Pyracantha crenulata grows in Canyon slopes, disturbed ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.