Condalia globosa var. pubescens
Spiny abrojo, Spiny Abrojo
(c) Bob Miller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Condalia globosa var. pubescens (Spiny abrojo) is a native California shrub / tree in the Rhamnaceae family, recognized by Only Condalia in California, representing a primarily Mexican genus reaching its northern limit in the Sonoran Desert.
Spiny abrojo is a native shrub found in the Sonoran Desert in desert scrub habitats at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces small flowers in clusters of 1 to 8, with olive-green to purple hypanthiums. Growing up to 4 meters tall with smooth gray bark and pale olive-green or purple twigs covered in short hairs, it develops dense clusters of 2 to 7 narrow leaves. Its leaves are narrowly oblanceolate to obovate, 3 to 12 millimeters long, with a wedge-shaped base and a slightly thickened texture covered in sparse to dense hairs. The plant produces small black, juicy fruits 3 to 5 millimeters long that contrast with its spiny, textured branches.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Condalia in California, representing a primarily Mexican genus reaching its northern limit in the Sonoran Desert
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Imperial, Riverside
Outside California: Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Condalia globosa var. pubescens blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Ceanothus: Condalia flowers lack petals entirely; Ceanothus has showy white or blue flowers.; vs Colubrina: Condalia has no petals; Colubrina has 5 tiny greenish petals.; vs Adolphia: Condalia has spiny alternate branches; Adolphia has smooth opposite jointed stems.; vs Ziziphus: Condalia flowers have no petals and thin disk; Ziziphus has 5 petals and thick swollen disk.; vs Frangula: Condalia has spiny stems and no petals; Frangula is unarmed with 5 petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Condalia globosa var. pubescens native to California?
Yes. Condalia globosa var. pubescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Condalia globosa var. pubescens bloom?
Condalia globosa var. pubescens blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Condalia globosa var. pubescens grow?
Condalia globosa var. pubescens occurs in Imperial, Riverside, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Condalia globosa var. pubescens belong to?
Condalia globosa var. pubescens is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Condalia.
Is Condalia globosa var. pubescens rare or endangered?
Condalia globosa var. pubescens carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.