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Scientific: Canotia holacantha
Common: crucifixion thorn, canotia, castala, chaparro amargosa
Family: Celastraceae
Origin: A dominant perennial in desert scrub habitats, primarily on slopes or in washes, of the upland Sonoran and extreme western Chicuahuan deserts of mainly Arizona

Pronounciation: ka-NO-she-a hoe-la-KAN-tha

Hardiness zones
Sunset
11-13
USDA 8-11

Landscape Use: For desert landscape design themes only as a background shrub, screen, or small tree. Canotia is a great plant for local desert horticulture restoration projects and desert parks.

Form & Character: Upright, open, VERY STIFF and rigid to spreading and somewhat pendulous with age, dry.

Growth Habit: Mostly deciduous, woody perennial large shrub to small tree, VERY stiffly branched, slow growth rate to 10- to 15-feet tall with somewhat less than equal spread, stems are green (photosynthetic) and taper to a sharp and pointed tip.

Foliage/Texture: Ephemeral, glaucous, alternate, widely spaced, deltoid, scale like to 1/8-inch long; fine texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Canotia flowers are perfect (single flower containing both male and females reproductive parts), yellowish white containing five petals, stamens and anthers, sepals very persistent. Fruits are brown capsules, 1/4-inch long at maturity, minutely papillose with winged seeds, generally nondescript.

Seasonal Color: None.

Temperature: Heat loving, cold tolerant to 15oF.

Light: Full sun

Soil: Canotia is very tolerant of alkaline soils. Prefers a fast-draining soil.

Watering: Needs no supplemental water after establishment in the landscape. Some additional water will dramatically increase the growth rate and eventual size of canotia.

Pruning: Very little to none needed (or recomended) except to give shape and to raise the crown in situations where a small upright tree form is desired. When pruning be VERY CAREFUL and wear protective clothing, gloves and safety glasses because of its stiff and rigid habit.

Special Warning: Beware all you fainters!!! This well-armed native shrub can draw blood.

Propagation: Seed

Disease and Pests: None

Additional comments: Typically this indigenuous large shrub can only be found for sale at nurseries specializing in local Sonoran Desert native vegetation. There is only one species in the genus Canotia.