Just as its name suggests, Himalayan firethorns are thorned, and their fruits are red as fire.

Himalayan firethorns are widely distributed in Sichuan. They are also a kind of snack for local kids. When they bloom in late spring, the clusters of white flowers are like a piece of brocade covering the valley. In winter, the red and bitter fruits grow amid green leaves.

It’s also called the “army-saver”. According to the historical records, the troops of Zhuge Liang, a Chinese statesman and military strategist in the 3rdcentury, once ran out of food in their expedition to the South. They picked Himalayan firethorn fruits to feed themselves and saved their lives. Now people don’t eat Himalayan firethorn fruits anymore, instead, they are usually of horticultural use.