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Condalia spp.
snakewood
Southwestern United States, Mexico, and South America
Overview
Condalia spp. is a genus of about 18 species of spiny shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae), native to the warmer, drier parts of the Americas from the southwestern United States through Mexico to Argentina and Chile. Plants are densely and intricately branched, with many short side branches ending in stiff thorns; across the genus they range from 3 to 20 feet (1 to 6 m) tall and 3 to 15 feet (1 to 4.5 m) wide. The small leaves, 0.2 to 1 inch (5 to 25 mm) long, are often clustered on short spur shoots and may be shed in drought, so the genus is described as semi-evergreen. Flowers are small, greenish to yellowish, and lack showy petals, opening singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils. The fruit is a fleshy drupe, 0.2 to 0.4 inch (5 to 10 mm) across, ripening black, red, or purple; the fruit of species such as C. hookeri and C. globosa is edible. Plants grow on dry slopes, desert grassland, and brush on well-drained alkaline soils and tolerate severe drought, though they are slow-growing and frost-sensitive in the colder part of the range.
Native Range
Native to the warm, arid and semi-arid Americas, from the southwestern United States and Mexico south through Central and South America to Argentina and Chile.Suggested Uses
Grown in dryland and desert gardens, as thorny barrier or boundary hedging, and for wildlife habitat where the fruit feeds birds. Suited to xeriscape and revegetation plantings on arid sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 20'
Width/Spread3' - 15'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Most species grow in full sun on dry, freely draining sandy, rocky, or loamy soils, including alkaline ground with pH from 6.5 to 8.5. Water needs are low to very low, and established plants tolerate prolonged drought. Growth is slow, and many species are frost-sensitive, hardy in roughly USDA zones 8 to 11. The dense thorny habit makes plants useful as barrier hedging. Plants resprout after browsing or cutting.Pruning
Little pruning is needed beyond shaping or removing dead wood, done in late winter. The thorny branches can be thinned to lift the canopy on tree forms. Cut stems resprout readily from the base.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring