Quick Facts

Quick facts

• Christ Thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi) is a spiny shrub or small tree that is native to northern Africa and the Middle East.
• It has not yet become naturalised in Australia.
• It is a potential weed of pastures, grasslands, open woodlands, floodplains and inland waterways in semi-arid, tropical and sub-tropical regions.
• It reproduces entirely by seeds that may be dispersed by large birds and other animals that eat the fruit.
• It is very similar to Common Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), which has become naturalised in a few locations in Australia

What Does It Look Like?

What is it?

Christ Thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi) is a spiny shrub or small tree growing up to 10 m in height. In moist environments it is an evergreen, but in drier regions it looses all of its leaves during the dry season. The older stems are covered in a greyish-brown coloured bark that becomes rough and grooved with age. Younger branches are yellowish-white in colour, often intertwined, and tend to form an impenetrable thicket. The leaves are alternately arranged along the stems and a pair of spines is present near the base of each leaf. One of these spines is usually shorter and curved, while the other is longer, more slender and straight.

The inconspicuous flowers are small and yellowish-green in colour. They are borne in small clusters of usually 10–25 flowers in the leaf forks. The flower stalks and sepals are covered with whitish-coloured hairs.

Each fruit consists of a large hard stone surrounded in a fleshy pulp and a surface skin. These fruit is 10–20 mm across and turns yellow in colour as they mature and older fruit turn reddish-brown as they dry out (Navie 2004).

For further information and assistance with identification of Christ Thorn contact the herbarium in your state or territory.

Flower colour

Yellow, Green

Growth form (weed type/habit)

Tree, Shrub

Where it currently grows? Preferred habitat

Christ Thorn is a potential weed of pastures, grasslands, open woodlands, floodplains and inland waterways in semi-arid, tropical and sub-tropical regions (Navie 2004).

Are there similar species?

Christ Thorn is very similar to Common Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), which has become naturalised in a few locations in Australia. These species are difficult to distinguish but Christ Thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi) fruit are usually yellow in colour when mature, but turn reddish-brown as they dry out. However, the fruit of common jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) are dark reddish-brown when mature, but will turn black as they dry out (Navie 2004).

Why Is It A Weed?

What are its impacts?

Agriculture and native ecosystems: Christ Thorn is a potential weed of pastures, grasslands, open woodlands, floodplains and inland waterways in semi-arid, tropical and sub-tropical regions (Navie 2004). Overseas, it can form dense thickets (The State of Queensland 2008)

The fruit from Christ Thorn is one of the most important fruit crops in the dry parts of tropical Asia and Africa and many parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes and animal fodder (Sudhersan & Hussain 2003).

How does it spread?

Christ Thorn reproduces entirely by seeds which are held in woody capsules. These seeds may be dispersed by large birds and other animals that eat the fruit (Navie 2004).

What is its history in Australia?

Christ Thorn has not yet become naturalised in Australia (Navie 2004).

How To Manage It?

Best practice management

There are no documented sources on control methods for Christ Thorn.

Does it have a biological control agent?

NO

When does it grow? (lifecycle/growth calendar)

In the Middle East, Christ Thorn flowers and fruits in autumn (Sudhersan & Hussain 2003).

Where Is It Found?

Which states and territories is it found?

Not naturalised in any Australian state or territory.

What areas within states and territories is it found?

Christ Thorn has not yet become naturalised in Australia (Navie 2004).

Where does it originate?

Christ Thorn is native to northern Africa and the Middle East (Navie 2004).

National And State Weed Listings

Is it a Weed of National Significance (WONS)?

NO

Where is it a declared weed?

QLD, WA

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Is it on the National Alert List for Environmental Weeds?

NO

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Is it on the Agricultural Sleeper List?

NO

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Names And Taxonomy

Main scientific name

Ziziphus spina-christi

Other scientific names (synonyms)?

• Rhamnus spina-christi L.
• Ziziphus sphaerocarpa Tul.

Does it have other known common name(s)?

Christ's Thorn, Syrian Christ Thorn, Christ-Thorn Jujube, Jujube, Crown Of Thorns Tree