pyracantha

noun

pyr·​acan·​tha ˌpī-rə-ˈkan(t)-thə How to pronounce pyracantha (audio)
: any of a small genus (Pyracantha) of ornamental Eurasian thorny evergreen or semievergreen shrubs of the rose family with alternate leaves, corymbs of white flowers, and small red or orange pomes

called also firethorn

Examples of pyracantha in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plants with true thorns include bougainvillea, hawthorn and pyracantha. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 Great choices include hollies, old-fashioned roses, anaqua, Mexican plum, huisache, Turks cap, pyracantha, condalia and yucca. Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Mar. 2022 Edward Gohlich Also called firethorn, pyracantha is a thorny evergreen shrub that produces spectacular clusters of berries in the fall. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2022 For fruits, plant beautyberry, pyracantha, Eastern red cedar, viburnum, hawthorn, sumac, palm, crabapple, serviceberry, dogwood, bayberry, persimmon, black gum, holly, and wax myrtle. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Mar. 2021 This bacterial disease afflicts only apple, pear, and hawthorn trees, and pyracantha and cotoneaster shrubs. Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, 26 Apr. 2018 Watch fruit trees and ornamentals such as pyracantha, for signs of fireblight. Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, 31 Jan. 2018 Lace bugs attack pyracanthas, Boston ivy, sycamores, bur oaks, chinquapin oaks, azaleas, American elms and boxwoods, among others, turning their leaves the same pale tan color. Neil Sperry, star-telegram, 5 Sep. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek pyrakantha, a tree, from pyr- + akantha thorn

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pyracantha was in 1633

Dictionary Entries Near pyracantha

Cite this Entry

“Pyracantha.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyracantha. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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