Buffalo Thorn – 5 Seeds

Buffalo Thorn (Ziziphus mucronata) is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree,  growing 3 -17m high with a spreading canopy. The Buffalo Thorn is a valuable fodder tree. It plays an important role ecologically. Established plants are drought-tolerant, but they reach their largest size on deep, alluvial soils near water. Its presence is often considered an indicator of underground water.

The main stem is green and hairy when young and year old branches often zigzag. The bark is reddish brown or roughly mottled grey, cracked into small rectangular blocks, revealing a red and stringy under-surface. Young stems are reddish brown.

The stipules, when present, take the form of small thorns at the nodes, one straight and one hooked. Flowers are ± 4mm in diameter, green to yellow and borne in dense clusters in leaf axils. The fruit is a smooth, shiny, leathery, spherical drupe, 12-20 mm in diameter, reddish-brown or deep red when ripe, slightly sweet, the pulp is dry.

The fruits are edible and the tree has medicinal uses. Medicinal uses include using it to relieve pain, treat skin infections,  as an expectorant and to treat stomach ailments. Culinary uses for the berries include making porridge, as a coffee substitute and to make beer. The leaves are edible and can be cooked as a spinach alternative.

Common names: buffalo thorn (Eng.); blinkblaar-wag-‘n-bietjie (Afr.); umphafa, umlahlankosi, isilahla (isiZulu); umphafa (isiXhosa); umlahlabantu (Swazi); mokgalo (Tswana); mutshetshete (Venda); mphasamhala (Tsonga); mokgalô, moonaona (N Sotho)

Growing Buffalo Thorn

Indoor Sowing: Spring and Summer.

Direct Sowing:  Summer.

• A slow growing tree with growth of between 300 and 500 mm per year.
• Tolerates most soil types and prefers full sun, but can be grown in semi-shade.
• Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours.
• Sow the seeds in a mixture of fine river sand and compost.
• Place the container in a warm, bright area and keep moist.
• Transplant the seedlings once they have 2 leaves.