Crucifixion Thorn
Canotia holacantha
Family: Celastraceae
OTHER NAMES
Spanish: corona de cristo, junco
CHARACTERISTICS
Small, almost leafless tree, 10-15’h. Small green flowers in May-August but can sometimes be found flowering earlier or later depending on rains. Fruits are a 5-valved woody capsule. This species is dioecious (male and female flowers are on different plants).
One of the three similar-looking species in our region called “crucifixion thorn” (including Castela emoryi and Koeberlinia spinosa) and all three species are found in Ironwood Forest National Monument.
LANDSCAPE USE
Specimen tree, screening shrub.
GROWING CONDITIONS
AN EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED
SUN full sun
WATER moderate to low
SOIL -drained
HARDINESS hardy to 10°F
BASIN high zone
CONTAINER does moderately well in containers but will not attain full size
NUTRITION low
MAINTENANCE very little
ECOLOGY
This species is bumblebee and wasp pollinated.
ETHNOBOTANY
The berries are edible and are eaten.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
Found on arid slopes from 2,000-5,000 ft. in southern Utah, Arizona, southeast California, and into northwest Mexico.
TAXONOMY AND NAME
This species is in the Celastraceae, the staff vine family. There are 2 species in the genus Canotia native to northern Mexico and Arizona, with specimens showing up just past the state borders in California and Utah. The Flora of North America suggests that the genus name, Canotia, is a Mexican name for this plant. The species holacantha means “holy thorn”.
Canotia holacantha on iNaturalist
Canotia holacantha on SEINET
These "trees" have a wild shape that should be left to its own devices. Throw your pruners away and let these gorgeous plants be themselves. Photo by Steve Jones, iNaturalist
Trunk/bark details, photo by Mike Plagens, iNaturalist
Flower details, photo by Marianne Skov Jensen, iNaturalist
The fruits are dehiscent capsures (they will release their seeds readily). Photo by George Roark, iNaturalist
Dried, dehiscent fruits, photo by Eric Hough, iNaturalist