Firethorn and Firethorn Scab

• The firethorn shrub is an evergreen shrub with fierce thorns, glossy green leaves and thick clusters of bright red to orange berries. It is named firethorn for its copious berries and sharp thorns. Berries last until late winter, but when firethorn scab affects the shrub berries are often destroyed.
  
  

Symptoms

• In its early stages scab causes velvety black spots on the pyracantha's leaves. Leaves will eventually yellow and die, dropping off the plant. Black lesions appear on new twig growth causing girdling and dieback. Young fruit will shrivel and fail to mature. Older fruit blackens and develops rough, scabby skin.
  
  

Disease Cycle

• Scab fungus overwinters on diseased stems, fruits and attached leaves. As the weather warms in spring and early summer spores called canida form on diseased plant parts. Splashing water, usually in the form of rain, dislodges and spreads the spores. In order for spores to germinate, penetrate the plant and grow, a film of water from dew or prolonged rain is required.
  
  

Control

• As soon as they fall, collect and burn any infected plant matter that falls from the shrub. Prune and remove infected branches, leaves and fruit in the fall. As soon as buds form in the spring, thoroughly coat the shrub with fungicide. Continue spraying until two weeks after flowers fall off the shrub. Fungicide sprays are most effective if sprayed before rainfall when spores are mobile.