Carob Plant
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)
Carob is a unique plant that does not require much maintenance at all, it will thrive even on rocky soil condition and with little water possible.
Cultivated around the world for its sweet and nutritious fruits, carob seeds were once used to weigh gold, which is where the word ‘carat’ is derived. The Spanish brought carob growing to Mexico and South America, and the British introduced carob trees to South Africa, India and Australia.
Thriving in Mediterranean-like climes, carob grows well anywhere that citrus grows and is grown for its fruit (pod), which is most familiarly known for its use ground into a flour and substituted for cocoa beans. Carob powder is a healthy alternative to cocoa powder, although minimally processed cocoa powder has some health benefits of its own. Since carob powder is naturally sweet, there's no need to add sugar or other sweeteners when using it in your favorite recipes.
The long, flat brown carob pods (4 to 12 inches (10 to 30.5 cm.)) also contain a polysaccharide gum, which is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, and is used in many products.
Our Carob Plant is very healthy looking plant and have had some good growth.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy soil with a pH of 6.0 to 8.5. Tolerates poor soil conditions.
- Watering: Drought-tolerant once established but requires regular watering during the first few years or during extremely dry periods.
- Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 15°C and 30°C. Very heat-tolerant and can withstand temperatures up to 40°C. Mature plants are frost-hardy to about -6°C.
- Light: Full sun is ideal to ensure vigorous growth and optimal pod production.
- Fertilising: Generally requires little fertilization. If necessary, use a low-nitrogen, phosphorus-rich fertilizer annually.
- Pruning: Prune to shape the tree and remove dead or damaged branches in late winter. Pruning helps in maintaining plant health and enhancing pod production.
- Mulching: Apply organic mulch to conserve soil moisture, particularly in hot, dry regions.
- Pest Control: Relatively pest-free. Monitor for common garden pests and treat organically if necessary.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Flowers in spring with fruit maturing in the autumn. The pods are harvested when fully ripe and brown.
- Potting: Not typically grown in pots due to its size but young plants can start in containers before transplanting.
- Feeding Regime: Carob trees generally require minimal feeding. Supplement with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer if growth appears stunted or pod production is poor.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $35
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
