Plant Name:  Carob Tree

Botanical Name:  Ceratonia siliquaOrigin: Native to eastern Mediterranean

Height/Physical Description:  Evergreen tree with dense, round-headed canopy.  Grows 30 to 40 feet tall and wide.  Leaves are glossy dark green, divided into 4 to 10 leaflets.  Small red flowers in Spring which eventually give way to large 1-foot pods.

Special Attributes:  Very drought-tolerant tree.  Large pods are high in sugar and can be milled to a fine powder and used as a chocolate substitute.

Purchasing:  Private nurseries or online.

Planting Requirements: Plant in fertile soil with good drainage.  Best time to plant new trees is in Fall or Winter.   Give Carob trees lots of ground space as they have large roots capable of breaking sidewalks.

Watering: Young trees require a moderate amount of water until established especially between the months of March through May to support the tree’s new growth.  Do not water next to the base of the tree as this could result in root crown diseases.  Not tolerant to overwatering.

Fertilizing:  Compost can be added away from the base of the tree.

Harvesting:  In Summer, the large pods can be harvested when they become dry and reddish dark brown. The pods will easily fall off branch when they are ready for harvest.

Pruning:  Periodic grooming may be required to remove dead or cross branches.  Prune trees only when they are dormant.  For deciduous trees, prune when leaves have completely dropped off; for evergreens, prune during the dry season (mid to late Summer) to avoid mildew and fungal diseases.

Pest:  Insect borers.

Diseases:  Root crown rot if overwatered.