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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Ziziphus obtusifolia (Lote-bush condalia)
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Ziziphus obtusifolia (Hook. ex Torr. & Gray) Gray

Lote-bush condalia, Lotebush

Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)

USDA Symbol: ziob

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Densely branched shrub with small leaves and stiff branchlets ending in spines. Frequent in unshaded places with very shallow soil over limestone. Bark with light gray coating interrupted by fine, lengthwise cracks resulting from radial growth. Leaves in clusters or alternate, up to 1 1/4 inches long, but mostly about half this length, variable in shape and with serrate or smooth margins. Flowers inconspicuous, in small clusters. Fruit fleshy, black, about 3/3 inch in diameter.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit: Black
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , OK , TX , UT
Native Habitat: Stream, river banks, Chaparral & brush country
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0418 Collected May 31, 1993 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe

Bibliography

Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ziziphus obtusifolia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ziziphus obtusifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ziziphus obtusifolia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-09-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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