Botanical Name: Ceratonia siliqua
Common Name: Carob. St. John's Bread
Type of Plant: dicot: tree
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape variable in shape; if left unpruned, the plant forms a very large multi-trunked shrub, with pruning, the plant becomes a large tree with a full rounded canopy and sturdy branching structure
Height 20-40'(50')
Spread 3/4-equal
Growth Rate moderate
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun is preferred; plant grows poorly in full shade
Soil tolerates most; thrives in dry soils and alkaline soil
Hardiness hardy (zones 9, 13-16, 18-24); thrives in warm sun
 
Morphology:
Leaves even-pinnately compound, alternate, 6"-12" long; the 6-10 leaflets are rounded to elliptic, 1-3" long, with an emarginate apex; leathery
Flowers unisexual, small (1'8") red, in short 3-6" long axillary racemes; spring-summer
Fruit a pod: 4-10" long, deep brown, edible when ripe in fall
 
Propagation:
seed
 
Usage:
a medium to large-scale accent tree, used for its picturesque form and foliage; commonly used as a large background screen for hillside plantings; has an aggressive root system, is very messy
 
Landscape Care:
Watering an occasional deep soak; becomes very drought tolerant after established; overwatering encourages heart rot
Fertilizing as needed; little is required unless heavily watered
Pruning to shape desired, as a tree, head high when young
Pests/Diseases root and heart rot in wet poorly drained soils
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: Eastern Mediterranean
Family: Fabaceae

Notes:
 
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