Description
Colletia hystrix (syn. C. spinosa & C. armata) | Barbed Wire Bush ‘Rosea’
Barbed Wire Bush, also known as Crucifixion Thorn, Pink Crucifixion Thorn, Thorn of the Cross, Bristly Colletia, Crucero, Espino Negro, and Yaqui, is a large shrub or small tree from Chile and Argentina where it grows in very arid areas characterized by low rainfall and low fertility. It’s a wickedly interesting nearly leafless evergreen shrub that grows slowly to 6 feet tall with rounded, spine-tipped, gray-green photosynthetic stems (called cladodes) arranged in opposite pairs. Powerfully and wonderfully fragrant, small, blushed-pink white tubular flowers emerge at the stem joints in late summer or fall. In some regions it may Flower in Winter. The tiny, inconspicuous, deciduous leaves are hard to see, but they’re there.
Plant in full sun in light to medium well-drained soil. Drought tolerant ,but accepting of summer water. Can tolerate temperatures down to at least 10° F and some claim as low as 0° F so long as the soil is kept dry. We’ve had our plant survive two consecutive winters that got down to 10° F in an open, exposed spot. with its extraordinary ability to survive extremes of drought this makes it in a ideal choice for planting where the soil is poor and dry or the area is subjected to long periods of low rainfall.
Another curious charecteristic of Colletias is that they are one of a relatively small group of non-leguminous plants that fix atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form much like many legumes can do and this allows the plants to grow on nutrient poor soils.
It is best to plant away from walkways or paths where one might bump into it. Although the spikey tips look like they might be somewhat rounded and dull, they’re not! They’re extremely sharp. It is sometimes used as an unusually attractive and impressive barrier plant that nothing would dare try to penetrate. The growth habit of the plant causes the branches to grow into itself in every different direction, so its recommended to prune occasionally to contain its size or shape.
*Note that this is different than Colletia paradox (Anchor Plant).
Type: Perennial
Sun exposure: Full sun
Mature height: 6+ ft
Mature width: 4+ ft
Hardiness zones: 8-10
The rooted plant you will receive will be 6-18 inches tall and will be one of these plants, or a similar one.
Please note: We ship plants orders out on Mondays and Tuesdays only.
