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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

Other common names
garland thorn
Jerusalem thorn
see moreram of Libya
Synonyms
Rhamnus paliurus
Paliurus aculeatus
see morePaliurus australis
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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Yellow Green Green
Autumn Green Brown
Winter Brown
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Rhamnaceae
Native to the UK
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

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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