Christ's thorn
Alert
Be on the lookout for Christ's thorn and report any sightings immediately.
Reporting options
- Report online.
- Phone Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
- Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Christ's thorn plant form
© Queensland Government
Christ's thorn fruit close-up
© Queensland Government
Christ's thorn fruit
© Queensland Government
Native to northern and tropical Africa and southern and western Asia, Christ's thorn is a spiny shrub that can outcompete native vegetation and dominate grazing land. It has not yet been recorded in Queensland.
Scientific name
Ziziphus spina-christi
Other names
- Christ's thorn jujube
Description
- This spiny shrub grows 3–10m tall.
- Short spines are positioned in pairs along the branches.
- The bark is whitish brown or pale grey and cracked.
- The trunk is twisted.
- Leaves are alternate, oval and more pointed at the tips.
- Flowers are small and greenish yellow.
- Fruits are 1cm in diameter and red-brown. Each fruit has a stone in the centre.
Habitat
- Found in areas of low rainfall.
- Capable of growing in desert or semidesert, where soils are often silty.
Distribution
- Not known to occur in Queensland.
Life cycle
- Propagates from seeds held in woody capsules.
Plants affected
- Native plants
- Pasture
Impacts
Environmental
- Forms dense thickets, displacing native vegetation.
Economic
- Dominates grazing land in arid and semi-arid areas.
Prevention
- Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
- Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.
Control
- Before undertaking any preventative or control actions, contact us online, by phone or in person.
Legal requirements
- Christ's thorn is a prohibited invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
- You must not:
- keep it
- move it
- give it away
- sell it
- release it into the environment.
If you do any of these, penalties may apply.
- You must not take any action that is reasonably likely to exacerbate the biosecurity threat posed by Christ's thorn.
- You must take any action that is reasonably likely to minimise the biosecurity threat posed by Christ's thorn.
- You must report any sightings immediately using 1 of these methods:
- Report online.
- Phone Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
- Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Further information
- Contact us online, by phone or in person.