Ziziphus Nummularia seed
Perfect for plant collectors and very hard to obtain. This small deciduous/ semi evergreen tree grows shiny bright green smooth leaves accented in the summer by mildly fragrant, small purple flowers that produce in abundance along the leaf axis.
The plant loves hot summer suns. The valued fruit follows flowering and grows to plum size beginning green and ripening to a yellow green with mahogany spotting, turning to a final brown-red. It is usually picked just before winter months. The fruit is then dried and ground into a flour and mixed with millet.
This plant should be given a warm, sunny location, but are otherwise relatively undemanding. Given adequate heat and sun, the trees will thrive without any special care. They should not be planted in the shade of other trees. Drought tolerant once established. Unpruned trees produce as well as those having been pruned. Winter pruning will keep the plants in better health.
The plant tolerates a wide variety of soil type. This tree grows well as a container plant for the home or greenhouse in addition to being a specimen plant.
Fun Facts:
- This shrub are often intercropped with millet, legumes and oil type seeds
- Good for erosion control in sandy areas
- This species is a host of larvae of butterfly Tarucus balkanica Freyer