Pyracantha koidzumii
Taiwan firethorn
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Pyracantha koidzumii (Taiwan firethorn) is a non-native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by narrow glaucous leaves with truncate/notched tips and few teeth.
Taiwan firethorn is a naturalized shrub found in California's coastal and southern regions including Santa Clara Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, southern Channel Islands, San Bernardino Mountains, and desert areas at elevations below 1,500 meters in disturbed forests, beach bluffs, and riparian areas. Flowering from February to June, this shrub produces white flowers in clusters with multiple blooms. Growing to 4 meters tall with an erect form and rusty-hairy branches that become glabrous with age, it develops a distinctive growth habit. Its narrow elliptic to obovate leaves are 25 to 45 millimeters long, with rusty undersides that become glaucous and glabrous, featuring truncate or slightly notched tips with occasional inconspicuous teeth. The shrub produces distinctive orange-red fruits 4 to 7 millimeters wide, adding ornamental interest to its landscape presence.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are narrow glaucous leaves with truncate/notched tips and few teeth
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed forest, beach bluffs, riparian areas
Elevation: < 1500 m
Outside California: Arizona, southeastern United States, native to Taiwan
Bloom period
Pyracantha koidzumii 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 koidzumii native to California?
No. Pyracantha koidzumii is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Pyracantha koidzumii bloom?
Pyracantha koidzumii blooms Feb-Jun.
What plant family does Pyracantha koidzumii belong to?
Pyracantha koidzumii is in the Rosaceae family, genus Pyracantha.
What habitat does Pyracantha koidzumii grow in?
Pyracantha koidzumii grows in Disturbed forest, beach bluffs, riparian areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Pyracantha sp.
- Pyracantha angustifolia — Slender or woolly firethorn
- Pyracantha atalantioides — Sichuan firethorn
- Pyracantha coccinea — Firethorn or scarlet firethorn
- Pyracantha crenulata — Himalayan or nepal firethorn
- Pyracantha fortuneana — Chinese firethorn
- Pyrus calleryana — Callery pear
- Pyrus communis — Common pear
- Pyrus sp. — Pear
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.