Saint John's Bread Ceratonia siliqua

Carob is a flowering evergreen tree in the bean family growing at maturity to 50 feet and a native to the Mediterranean region and Iran where, in its native environment, it is often found on rocky places near the sea shore.  The Greek word keratonia or Carob translates to horn, referring to the pods, while silique refers to the narrow elongated seed capsules.  

The common name Saint John's Bread is derived from the flesh of the seedpods that were reputedly eaten by St. John while spend 40 days in the desert.

The plant's edible pods are filled with a saccharine pulp and used as a chocolate substitute in cakes and drinks. They are rich in sugars and protein and can be eaten both green or dried.  The seedpods are also used to make a flour that is free from sugar and starch.  Roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute.  

Harvesting can be done once the pods have turned a glossy brown.  A long handled tool or stick can be used to knock the pods off the tree, while being careful not to damage the flowers that will be blooming at the same time.

A plant of many uses, flour made from the seedpods is used to make face-packs while tannin is used to help remove harmful microbes from the body and fight against bacteria, virus and fungus.  

It is frost tender and in leaf all year. Carob flowers from August to October and individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. The genus name of the carob tree derives from the Greek for "fruit of the carob". The epithet is Latin for "pod".

Carob grows well in sandy and loamy soils. While it prefers well-drained soil, it can grow in nutritionally poor soil and in very alkaline soils. However, it does not tolerate shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought and strong winds. Carob can be pruned and trained as a ornamental shrub; however, it is not likely to produce many edible fruit.

Its roots penetrate deep into the soil in order to locate moisture, therefore, allowing it to be planted in very arid locations.  That make it a great choice for xeriscaping, a type of gardening that reduces the need for irrigation.  

Rows of Carob are used to create a windbreak surrounding orchids.  Their dense form can serve as a buffer to reduce noise from the surrounding area.  

Saint John's Bread is a host plant for the larvae of the Wood leopard (Zeuzera pyrina) moth.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Surface roots can be aggressive. 

Small rodents can occasionally cause damage to the plant. 

Some cultivars can experience issues to scale and mildew.  

Larva of Ectomyelois ceratoniae (carob moth) may cause extensive damage to pods and seeds.