Their thorniness makes firethorns useful as barrier plants along property boundaries, around porches and under windows to bar uninvited intruders. Plant them in rows for hedges or to screen areas from public view. The lower growing forms make excellent groundcovers on banks. Some varieties, such as `Lalandi', can be trained against a wall as an espalier. However, espaliered firethorns grow vigorously and soon get too big for a single-story home. Also, espaliered plants have potentially more insect and disease problems than plants that stand-alone and have better air circulation. Firethorns do very well in containers.