Ziziphus

( ZIZ - ih - fuss )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of deciduous trees and shrubs needs full sun and little to moderate water. They are native to China, and produce fruits that are similar to dates. Trees reach 15-20 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide. Branches are gnarled, carrying glossy green leaves and clusters of small yellow flowers in spring and summer. Fruit matures in autumn, and can be eaten dried or straight off the tree. This is a great decorative tree, and can be used as a specimen or background shrub. Take care when planting these trees in your garden, as most species have thorny branches that can rip clothing and skin.

Ziziphus Species and Varietals

The genus Ziziphus includes 68 species, and is a member of the plant family Rhamnaceae.  These trees and shrubs grow well in zones 6-16, 18-24 and H1. (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Ziziphus jujuba (Jujube, Jujuba, Red Date, Chinese Date, Chinese, Jujube)
This species grows in a diverse range of habitats, and forms a small deciduous tree or shrub that reaches between 16 and 39 feet tall, and usually has thorny branches. Bark is greyish-brown. Leaves are shiny green and flowers are very small and yellow-green. Fruits that follow are edible and about an inch long. They mature to brown to purple-black in color, and eventually will wrinkle up, looking a lot like a small date. There is a single hard kernel inside fruits that contain two seeds. Fruits are said to taste like a less acidic apple. Commonly grown varieties include 'Chico, 'Li', 'Lang', 'Sherwood', 'Silverhill', 'Shui Men', 'Honey Jar', 'Sugar Cane', 'Winter Delight'.

Ziziphus lotus (Jujube)
This species is native to the Mediterranean, including Morocco and Somalia. These plants can reach a height of between 6.6 and 16.4 feet and have shiny green leaves and dark yellow edible fruits. Branches are thorny. This species is often regarded as the Lotus Tree of Greek Mythology, referenced in the Odyssey. 

Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian Jujube, Indian Plum, Chinese Date, Chinese Apple, Ber, Dunks)
This quick-growing tropical fruit species forms an evergreen shrub or small tree that reaches up to 50 feet tall. Flowers are small and yellow and are followed by edible orange to brown fruits. There are many cultivars of this species, which is native to tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

Ziziphus mucronata (Buffalo Thorn, UmLahlankosi, Blinkblaar-wag-'n-bietjie)
This species is native to southern Africa, and forms a deciduous tree up to 56 feet tall when mature. These trees survive in a variety of soil types, and have hooked thorns. Flowers are small and greenish-yellow and produce abundant amounts of nectar for local pollinators. These plants ake

Ziziphus rugosa (Zunna Berry, Chunna Fruit, Churna Fruit)
This species is considered a wild fruit, and is native to hills and mountains in China, India, Laos, Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Berries are consumed in the plant's native range. 

Caring for and pruning jujube Trees

Plant Jujube trees in a place in the landscape that receives full sun (between 6 and 8 hours each day is ideal for best flowering and fruiting). Bare-root trees and nursery seedlings should be planted in early springtime. They prefer to be planted in well-draining soil that has a slightly alkaline to neutral pH (between 5.0 and 8.5). Once established, these trees are tolerant of a wide variety of soil conditions, such as salinity, drought, or standing water. If local soils do not drain well or are particularly poor in nutrients, make sure to amend the planting site with plenty of organic material and/or sand to improve both structure and drainage. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of trees to suppress weed growth, increase soil moisture retention, and help to regulate soil temperatures. Water newly planted trees regularly to help them establish a strong root system. Mature trees are more drought-tolerant, but will still need extra waterings, including deep waterings, during the growing, flowering, and fruiting seasons.

​​Pruning Jujube trees is best done in late winter or early springtime, while the tree is still dormant and before new growth has pushed out for the year. At this time, remove dead, damaged, diseased or crossing branches and open up the canopy to increase airflow and sunlight penetration. Shape the tree to maintain an open, vase-like structure. Young trees should be heavily pruned after planting to encourage a strong central leader to emerge with well-placed scaffolding. Remove suckers from the base of trees when they appear. Organic compost can be used yearly, applied in springtime around the base of trees to improve and maintain soil structure and nutrients. Otherwise, these plants do not need to be fertilized.

Propagation

Ziziphus can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Jujube tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Ziziphus by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Ziziphus by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Ziziphus plants are contained inside of the fruits produced by trees. They are typically red or reddish-green when ripe.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Jujube fruits typically contain two seeds.
Ziziphus seeds, or stones.

Problems and Pests

Jujube trees are relatively pest and disease free, though they can suffer from time to time from the following common garden ailments:
  • Rust
  • Anthracnose
  • Root Rot
  • White Rot
  • Ascochyta Spot
  • Fruit Shrink
  • Dieback
  • Witche's Broom
For more information on these issues, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

Jujube fruits are edible, and quite delicious.
These trees can be grown in backyard orchards.
Here, a Jujube is used as a specimen tree in the center of a walkway.

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully

Resources

How to Grow a Jujube Tree
How to Grow and Care for Jujubes
Wikipedia: Ziziphus
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 385, Jujube
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