Jujube fruit (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)
Known as Chinese date, is native to China and has been grown and enjoyed for over 4,000 years. The tree is deciduous and is grown as an ornamental fruiting tree that can reach 30–40 feet tall (grown on a standard root stock), and grows well in the United States. Mature trees can produce between 40–100 pounds of fruit per season. Some varieties have spines on their branches and should be handled with care when planting.
Choosing a Variety of Jujube Tree
Li Jujube – A popular cultivar, produces large, round fruit that can weigh up to 3 oz. Good picked at the yellow-green stage and eaten fresh.
Lang Jujube – Another very popular variety that produces large pear-shaped fruit. For this variety it is best to eat dried fruit.
Honey Jar Jujube – The fruit is round to elongated and small to medium sized. Excellent for fresh eating, this jujube is very sweet and crisp, like sugar cane. Tree grows to 20 feet.
Jujube Shanxi Li Tree – the most popular fresh eating variety in China. Medium to large fruit that has a sweet apple flavor. Very productive tree.
32 comments
I bought a bare root Li Jujube tree from you and lost the info on how to water them in zone 8 B ( high AZ desert). I have a tendency to over water everything so really want to do it right with this beauty!
Bob, you may be able to propagate from cuttings, not sure how successful they are. You should keep in mind that most bare root jujube are grafted onto a different root stock. So keeping that in mind, your cuttings may not be as successful as grafted ones. But gardening is like a giant experiment, so I say if you want to try it, it is worth it, you will learn something about propagation. You should use a rooting gel on the cuttings, just a suggestion.
Hello, Somebody told me that you can cut a branch (or top) off a jujube tree and stick it in a pot with fresh potting soil and it would grow into another tree. Is it really that simple? Thanks…
Candace, yes the Jujube rootstock can be an invasive issue. It spreads aggressively and can sucker easily. Jujube trees grow to be large trees so putting it in a pot may not be the answer. You will have to prune off the suckers as they pop up if you are going to put it in the ground. Suckering happens with some cherry tree root stocks as well. I know I have a multigraft cherry tree that I am constantly having to prune off the suckers that sprout up from the roots.
I read online that jujube roots can be invasive, that they spread by root suckers and can be hard to get rid of. Is this true with the rootstock that is used on the various jujubes you sell? Should I dig mine up and pot it instead?