Pyracantha

This thorny, hardy evergreen is often grown as a protective screen or up against walls and fences but it can also be offered as an attractive formal standard. The small dark green leaves are complemented by masses of small white flowers in spring which are followed by brightly coloured yellow or orange or red fruits for autumn and winter. It will grow well in light soils even tolerating chalky sub-soils and copes with full sun or partial shade. A number of varieties are available such as 'Orange Glow' bearing orange fruits, 'Soleil d'Or' bearing yellow fruits and 'Ventoux Red' which has red fruits.