Scientific name: Ziziphus jujuba
Synonym: Ziziphus zizyphus
Family: RHAMNACEAE
Common names: “Jujube” “red date” “Chinese date” “Korean date”
Plant Type: Deciduous tree
Conditions:
Zone: 6-9
Light: Full sun
Exposure: Sheltered, hot location
Soil: Prefers less clay, handles high alkalinity & poor soil
Moisture: Moist well drained, handles drought
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 15-30′ W 15-25′
Leaf and Stem shape: Thorny branches bear spiny leaves
Flower: Non-showy, white to yellowish green, fragrant flowers followed by drupes of varying size with a single stone
Pruning: Very carefully, remove all suckers and DDD’s, then prune for air circulation and balance
Maintenance: Low, fruits can cause litter problems
Landscape use: Edible landscape, mixed hedgerow, barrier, wildlife garden
Propagate: By seed, cuttings, grafting and division of suckers
Pests & Disease: Nothing serious
Comments: Edible fruits taste similar to apples, popular in Asia, in the northern areas the growing season is too short for the trees to produce ripe fruit usually,the fruits have been used for liver ailments in traditional Chinese medicine, though the flowers are hermaphroditic for best results and largest fruit crops plant 2 trees
Cultivars: Select the best grafted cvs for your region and purpose, 2 early fruiting cvs suited to a mild Pacific Northwestern climate are ‘Li’ & ‘Lang’ – require protection from excessive wet and cold but will produce fruit
