Practical
Plants

Paliuris spina-christi

Christ's Thorn

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Paliuris genus in the family Rhamnaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
5 m
Spread
5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or dried for later use. A pleasant sub-acid taste, somewhat resembling dried apples[3]. The woody fruit is up to 30mm in diameter[5].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Anticathartic, astringent, diuretic and tonic[7].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plants are used for hedging, they have a loose but bushy habit[1][5].

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Environment

Range
S. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat
Hedges, roadsides and thickets, in maquis and garigue on dry sandy hills to 3000 metres[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame and moved into the greenhouse in February. Fair to good germination[9]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and overwinter them in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out in early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[5]. Root cuttings 4cm long, December in a greenhouse. Fair to good percentage[9]. Layering

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in an ordinary well-drained garden soil in full sun[2][5]. Tolerates light shade[6]. Prefers a limy soil[5]. Grows well in dry soils and, once established, is drought tolerant[4]. Prefers a light sandy soil in a warm sunny position[8]. Hardy to about -15°c[4]. Plants are of slow to moderate growth[6]. The branches are pliable and excessively spiny[1]. Plants can regrow from the base if they are cut back by severe weather[5]. The flowers are slightly perfumed[8]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  6. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2

  7. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  8. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  9. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  10. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩

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