Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_pyracantha_crenulata
Himalayan Firethorn
Pyracantha crenulata
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About Himalayan Firethorn
Himalayan Firethorn (Pyracantha crenulata) is an introduced tree documented on Kauaʻi by Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist and the 2026 Smithsonian checklist. Its checklist classification is naturalized; current extent is unassessed. Native from the Himalaya and southwestern China through adjacent Asia, occupying slopes, stream sides, thickets, and disturbed ground. Birds can disperse its abundant pomes. Bishop Museum and Smithsonian document naturalized Kauaʻi occurrence; present extent and impacts are unassessed.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomic identity, tree form, diagnostic morphology and island occurrence use the linked reviewed sources. Historical planting, cultivation, naturalization and invasive status are separate. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Pyracantha crenulata
- Common names
- Himalayan Firethorn · Nepal firethorn
- Other names
- Pyracantha crenulata · Himalayan firethorn · Nepal firethorn
- Record type
- Species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not yet assessed
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-06
- Evidence limits
- Present island-wide abundance, occupied habitat, recruitment, population trend, and ecological effects have not been quantified; no invasive severity is inferred from checklist or forestry status.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Not yet assessed
- Food and resource needs
- Not yet assessed
- Reproduction
- Many white flowers require pollination and produce clusters of small pomes eaten by birds. Dispersed seeds may require dormancy-breaking conditions; local dispersers and recruitment are not documented.
- Shelter
- Not yet assessed
- Growth form
- Shrub or small tree
Threats and conservation
- Monitoring
- Not yet assessed
- Data gaps
- Current population extent and trajectory · Additional species-specific ecological and conservation sources
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not yet assessed
- Seasonal description
- Himalayan Firethorn (Pyracantha crenulata) is an introduced tree documented on Kauaʻi by Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist and the 2026 Smithsonian checklist. Its checklist classification is naturalized; current extent is unassessed. Native from the Himalaya and southwestern China through adjacent Asia, occupying slopes, stream sides, thickets, and disturbed ground. Birds can disperse its abundant pomes. Bishop Museum and Smithsonian document naturalized Kauaʻi occurrence; present extent and impacts are unassessed.
Sources and further reading
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:730617-1
- https://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200011172
- https://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/publications/pdf/tr75.pdf
- https://editedimages.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Imadaetal.2025Hawaiianvascularplants.xlsx
- https://doi.org/10.5479/si.32124043