Jujube - Ziziphus jujuba - €23

An easily grown attractive tree, that is gaining in popularity in the west as it's fruits are so tasty and also a useful herbal medicine. Cultivated for its fruit for thousands of years in China,Jujuba thrives in  medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. It is most productive in hot and somewhat dry climates in full sun, and is fast growing, producing a decent harvest after just 4 years from seed. Can be grown as an ornamental tree, in a fruit garden, or in a thicket or hedge due to its spreading nature. To order this plant please contact us [email protected]. 
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Context

  • native region: Temperate Asia
  • native habitat: Dry, stony slopes and hills
  • family: Rhamnaceae

Predators

  • Good resistance to most pests and diseases

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun 
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline and can grow in very alkaline soil
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 - 10
  • Prefers well drained soil 
  • Can tolerate drought  

Known Hazards

  • Caution in diabetics on medication

Overview


  • Deciduous tree growing to 10m by 7m at a fast rate 
  • It is in flower from April - May, and the seeds ripen in October
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. Self fertile
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils
  • Needs full sun
  • It prefers well drained soil
  • Can grow in nutritionally poor soil
  • Tolerates drought

Characteristics

  • form: Deciduous tree
  • layer :Lower canopy
  • habit: Suckering with new plants from underground runners
  • height x width (m): 10 x 7   

Products 

  • Fruit: First cultivated in China for its fruit over 4000 years ago. Although the fruit from this tree is very popular in China today, it is largely unknown in the west. Fruit is round, somewhere between the size of a cherry and a plum, an is dark red when ripe. Delicious fruit, slightly apple -like in flavour, and reportedly highly valued medicinally. Can also be eaten dried. Some research conducted in Japan has shown that jujube increases immune-system resistance
  • Flowers: Fairly low key and small, with five inconspicuous yellowish-green petals. Attractive to some insects
  • Leaves and twigs: Leaves are glossy green with a finely toothed margin. Branches can have spines 

Functions, behaviours

  • Responds well to coppicing
  • Prefers an open loam and a hot dry position
  • Trees form a deep taproot
  • Where the climate suits it, the plant can escape from cultivation and become invasive
  • ​Best in hot and somewhat dry climates in full sun.​
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project