Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens

Graythorn

Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Graythorn is a California native shrub found in desert regions of southeastern California in desert scrub habitats at elevations of 45 to 1,250 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small white flowers in clusters of 2 to 30 blossoms on stiff, spreading branches. Growing as a compact shrub less than 3 meters tall, it features distinctive gray bark and branches tipped with thorns that are densely covered in short white hairs. Its leaves are small and grayish, typically 2 to 20 millimeters long, with ovate or oblong shapes and occasionally toothed margins. The shrub produces small blue-black fleshy fruits 7 to 10 millimeters long, adding visual interest to its desert landscape.

Habitat: Uncommon. Desert scrub

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: 45-1250 m

Bioregions: D

California counties: Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.