Paliurus spina-christi, commonly known as Jerusalem thorn, garland thorn, Christ's thorn, or crown of thorns, is a species of Paliurus native to the Mediterranean region and southwest and central Asia, from Morocco and Spain east to Iran and Tajikistan. It is a thorny shrub that grows to a height of five to six meters . The broad to narrow-shaped, leathery leaves are two- lined, alternate and are up to 4 cm long and 1.5–3.5 cm wide, usually with entire margins or finely sawn with a short stem.
In landscaping and agriculture , the plant is used for bounding hedges. But beekeepers also cultivate it as a nectar- producing plant.
