Soana (Ziziphus rignonii): A Rare Caribbean Native Worth Knowing About
If you’re passionate about native Caribbean plants and stumbled upon the name soana, you’ve discovered one of the region’s more elusive botanical treasures. Soana, scientifically known as Ziziphus rignonii, is a native shrub that calls Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands home. But before you start planning where to plant one in your garden, there are some important things you should know about this mysterious plant.
What Makes Soana Special?
Soana belongs to the buckthorn family and shares its genus with the more commonly known jujube plants. As a perennial shrub, it’s designed to stick around for years, typically growing as a multi-stemmed woody plant that usually stays under 13-16 feet tall. In the right conditions, it might surprise you by growing taller or developing a more tree-like single stem.
This plant is exclusively native to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, making it a true Caribbean endemic. You won’t find wild populations anywhere else in the world, which makes it pretty special from a biodiversity standpoint.
The Reality Check: Why Soana Might Not Be for Every Garden
Here’s where things get tricky. Despite its intriguing native status, soana is remarkably elusive in the horticultural world. There’s very little information available about:
- How to actually grow it successfully
- What conditions it prefers
- Where to source plants or seeds
- Its specific wildlife or pollinator benefits
- Its garden performance or aesthetic appeal
This lack of cultivation information isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it might simply mean that soana is either extremely rare, highly specialized in its habitat requirements, or hasn’t made the jump from wild plant to garden plant.
Should You Try to Grow Soana?
If you’re gardening in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands and you’re committed to using exclusively native plants, soana might be worth investigating further. However, proceed with extreme caution:
- Only source plants from reputable native plant nurseries or botanical gardens
- Never collect from wild populations
- Consult with local botanists or native plant societies first
- Be prepared that it might have very specific growing requirements
Better Alternatives for Most Gardeners
Given the challenges with soana, you might want to consider other native Caribbean shrubs that are better understood and more readily available. Local native plant societies in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands can recommend well-documented native alternatives that will provide reliable beauty and ecological benefits for your garden.
The Bottom Line
Soana represents the fascinating world of lesser-known native plants that exist at the margins of our horticultural knowledge. While its rarity and mystery make it intriguing, it’s probably not the best choice for most gardeners. If you’re determined to learn more about this plant, connect with local botanical institutions or native plant experts who might have firsthand experience with Caribbean endemics.
Sometimes the most responsible thing we can do as gardeners is admire rare plants from afar while focusing our efforts on well-documented natives that we know we can grow successfully and that will reliably support local ecosystems.
