Jeruselem Thorn
Paliurus spina-christi
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Romania, Spain, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Fritz Geller-Grimm
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rhamnaceae
- Genus:
- Paliurus
- Species:
- Paliurus spina-christi
- USDA Symbol:
- PASP16
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, green
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from roots after fire or cutting. Adapted to Mediterranean fire regimes.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, rocky or sandy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- tolerates poor, nutrient-deficient soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have double dormancy requiring warm followed by cold stratification. Scarification improves germination rates significantly.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI