Paliurus spina-christi
Christ's thorn
A bushy shrub with slender, viciously thorny stems and rounded, glossy, bright green leaves. Clusters of small, greenish-yellow, star-shaped flowers in summer are followed by small, woody fruit, each surrounded by a large, disc-shaped wing, pale green at first, then brown, and lasting into winter
Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Yellow | Green | Green | |
| Autumn | Green | Brown | ||
| Winter | Brown |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Rhamnaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
A genus of eight species of either evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees, native to warm and dry areas such as Eurasia, North Africa, Eastern Spain, Japan and Taiwan. The smooth or toothed foliage is glossy and dark green, with star-shaped yellow flowers along the stems in summer followed by round, winged fruits
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun. In cooler areas benefits from the shelter of a warm wall
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in autumn, or by softwood cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Low Maintenance
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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