Tropicals - Carob (St. John's Bread)
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  I am enclosing a picture of a "tree" which I have growing in a flower pot. I’m also sending a leaf. This plant grew from a seed which I got in Israel, near the Holocaust Museum. I wonder what kind of tree it is, and can I plant it outside? How big will it get, etc.? This plant has been growing in the pot for over a year, and I kept it inside on a sun porch last winter. (Melbourne)

  The plant in questions is Ceratonia siliqua, commonly called Carob or St. John's Bread. This evergreen tree can grow up to 50 feet in its native Mediterranean region, but would not be winter hardy in Arkansas. While is can withstand a few degrees of frost, it is generally adapted to the same range as an orange tree. Grow it as a houseplant, and move it in and out each season. It looks like a pretty plant, and would be a nice addition to your collection.

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