Ziziphus mucronata


Botanical Information

FamilyRhamnaceae
GenusZiziphus
Speciesmucronata
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (deciduous)
OriginThe Buffalo thorn is found in the sub-Sahara Africa and going from South Africa northwards to Ethiopia and Arabia.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone10a
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone>9a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH2
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)(-1.1)
Temperature (°F)30
Height10 - 20
Spread3 - 10
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodSeptember

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionThe leaves are simple, and they are alternating and they are ovate. There are two thorns growing from the nodes one of the thorns are facing forwards and the seconded one is facing the opposite direction. The bark is more of a radish brown type of colour
ID CharacteristicOn the nodes of the tree there are two thorns. The younger twigs of this tree are zigzagging. And that one side of the trees usually are eaten away by insects.
ShapeThe crown of the tree is irregular .
PropagationFrom a seed you are going want to strip a layer off the seed and then you are going to soak the seed in cold water then from there you are going put the seeds that you have got wet with cold water for six hours you, are going to put the seeds on a tray with river sand to keep them all moist.
Bark/Stem DescriptionWhen the tree is young the main steam is green and hairy, the base of the tree is 40 cm in diameter, as the tree gets older the main branches start to crack and to small rectangular blocks revealing a red stringy under surface.
Leaf DescriptionThe leaves are distinctly shiny and it has got three veins starting from the base of the leaf, the leafs size can vary from tree to tree but it has alternating leaves and the shape of the leaves are ovate. The leaves also turn a yellow colour in Autumn.
Flower DescriptionThe flower are borne in dense clusters of green to yellow flowers.
Fruit DescriptionThe fruit of this tree is a drupe, when you pick up the fruit you will notice that it is smooth and lathery, it will take the colour of deep red when it is fully ripe and if you consume the fruit it will be slightly sweet.
Colour DescriptionThe bloom colour is green, the leafs go from green to yellow in Autumn and the flowers are a yellow colour to them with green, the bark of this tree has a radish brown colour, the fruit that you get from this tree has a deep red colouration to it.
Texture DescriptionWhen the tree is young the main branch is hairy to the touch.

Photographs