Carob Tree, St. John's Bread (Ceratonia siliqua)
Robust evergreen, salt-tolerant tree whose fruit is used to make cocoa or coffee substitute. The pulp - carob - is dried and ground. It resembles cocoa.
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Appearance
Robust evergreen, salt-tolerant tree whose fruit is used to make cocoa or coffee substitute. The pulp - carob - is dried and ground. It resembles cocoa.
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Leaves
Dark green, evergreen, 10 to 20 cm long elliptic or obovate leaves. Even pinnate with 2-5 pairs of leaflets.
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Leaf upperside
Dark green, evergreen, 10 to 20 cm long elliptic or obovate leaves. Even pinnate with 2-5 pairs of leaflets.
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Leaf underside
Dark green, evergreen, 10 to 20 cm long elliptic or obovate leaves. Even pinnate with 2-5 pairs of leaflets.
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Flowers
Flowering period: VII to XI. Pale yellow, fairly inconspicuous flower clusters, 10 to 15 cm long with a pungent smell.
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Fruits
Initially green, later brown-violet pods, 10 to 20 cm long. The pods are edible or used to feed animals.
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Bark
Young bark is shiny dark red, later brown. The rough outer bark is segmented and pale grey.
Application
Open country, open fields, tip afforestation, slope stabilization, soil stabilization, public areas, parks, urban areas, roadside verges, car parks, pedestrian precincts, container plants, private gardens, kitchen gardens, front gardens, verandas, crop plant
Native regions
Mediterranean regions
Location parameters
Light: full sun to sunny; soil: dry to very fresh; soil structure: heavy to loose; soil depth: shallow to very deep; humus concentration: low to high, pH value: moderately acid to alkaline; nutrient concentration: low to high; soil: dry to very fresh.
Demands
Does not tolerate stagnant moisture.
Hardiness
down to -5 C°
Growth
Height of growth: 4 to 10 m. Spread: 5 to 10 m. Tree or shrub with normal growth potential and dense, spherical crown.
Leaves
Dark green, evergreen, 10 to 20 cm long elliptic or obovate leaves. Even pinnate with 2-5 pairs of leaflets.
Flowers
Flowering period: VII to XI. Pale yellow, fairly inconspicuous flower clusters, 10 to 15 cm long with a pungent smell.
Fruits
Initially green, later brown-violet pods, 10 to 20 cm long. The pods are edible or used to feed animals.
Bark
Young bark is shiny dark red, later brown. The rough outer bark is segmented and pale grey.
Roots
Aggressive roots.