Carob Tree for Sale

The Carob Tree has been cultivated for thousands of years across the Mediterranean, where it has fed civilisations, livestock and wildlife alike. Known by many names — Locust Tree, St. John's Bread, Carob — this magnificent, long-lived evergreen is as beautiful as it is productive, and it is one of the most drought-tolerant fruit trees you can grow in South Africa.

The carob produces long, leathery brown pods that are rich in natural sugars, fibre, and micronutrients. Dried pods are ground into carob powder — a naturally sweet, caffeine-free alternative to cocoa used in a wide range of baked goods, confectionery, and health foods. The pods are also highly nutritious feed for livestock, particularly horses and cattle, and the tree's dense canopy makes it an exceptional shade tree and windbreak.

As a garden specimen, the Carob is an impressive, spreading tree with glossy, dark green leathery leaves that remain on the tree year-round. It thrives in exactly the conditions where many other fruit trees struggle — hot, dry, exposed sites with poor, rocky or sandy soils. Established trees are extraordinarily drought-tolerant and require minimal ongoing maintenance.

One important note: carob trees are either male or female, and you will need at least one of each to guarantee pod production. Female trees bear the pods; male trees provide the pollen. Plant one male alongside every four to eight female trees for reliable fruiting.