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 the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- 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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