AS THE days darken, we are always looking out for plants to brighten our gardens, and one that never fails to please at this time of year is the ‘firethorn’ or pyracantha. Good specimens are right now copiously covered in bunches of shining berries in fiery reds, warm oranges or glowing yellows.

These tough evergreens can be grown as freestanding shrubs, but are best seen trained hard against walls. They produce large quantities of strongly perfumed hawthorn like flowers in May or June, just at a time when bees need the nectar most. By September, the long stalked berries have fully developed as spectacular glistening clusters of colourful bead like fruits.

Despite their delicious appearance, they are left alone by the birds for a long time and remain intact on the plants for our enjoyment. It is only after prolonged freezing weather makes their flesh more palatable and the birds considerably more hungry that they begin to strip them of this most welcome harvest. Interestingly, it is the red berried varieties that are taken first, then the orange ones. The last and perhaps least tempting to the birds are the yellow forms, but they too play their part in sustaining them through the hungry days of winter. The prickly, impenetrable habit and dense evergreen foliage also makes for excellent cover throughout the year, and for safe nesting spaces in spring.

They are often seen under and around windows, where they also perform as a useful burglar deterrent. It is not for nothing that they are called firethorns - they have plentiful long, hard needle sharp spines hidden discreetly away amid that highly decorative, shining green foliage. They are certainly vicious enough to deter a casual burglar, and are best approached with the protection of thick leather gloves when it comes to pruning time.

These firethorns are tough enough to cope with most garden conditions short of waterlogging. They will even do quite well up a shady wall, though flowering and fruiting may be reduced if they never get to see sunshine at all. It is also worth bearing in mind the base of a wall can be a dangerously dry place for a newly planted shrub or climber of any kind. Look after them with a watering when needed for the first few years until their roots have gone down and out to find more reliable natural moisture. After that, simply enjoy the year round charms of pyracanthas - the most beautiful of prickly protectors!

Chris Crowder is head gardener at Levens Hall.

chris.crowder@me.com

Jobs to do this week:

Now is the time to plant bare-root trees, shrubs, hedging and fruit bushes, but make sure to soak the roots in a bucket of water for an hour or two first.

Following seasonal frosts, the flavour of leeks, parsnips and brussels sprouts will have greatly improved. Harvest from now on, and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Stand pots or containers outside up on feet, even a few small pebbles will do. Raising them up like this will improve the all important winter drainage.