Jujube
Ziziphus jujuba · Rhamnaceae
📷 Rémi Tournebize · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around jujube and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Common name
- Jujube tree
- Family
- Rhamnaceae
- Type
- Fruit tree
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- June to July
- Adult height
- 6 to 8 meters
- Hardiness
- Down to -15 °C approximately
- Origin
- Tropical and subtropical Asia
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
The jujube tree hates being overwatered: water it only during the first two years, then leave it alone. The real secret is patience — it fruits fully from the 4th–5th year onwards, not before.
The common mistake
Gardeners think it's a 'difficult' tree and coddle it with too much water; it dies from root asphyxia long before it suffers from drought.
The pro's trick
Plant two different varieties nearby (like 'Lang' and 'Li') to boost cross-pollination and increase your fruit yield.
Seasonal watch
In autumn, watch out for spider mites if the summer was very dry and hot: they settle on the foliage.
Care
Watering
The jujube tree is very hardy when it comes to watering and resists drought well once established. During active growth periods, water regularly but let the soil dry out between waterings. Once mature, watering can be reduced considerably, especially in Mediterranean climates.
Sunlight
Plant your jujube tree in full sun to promote optimal fruiting and beautiful fruit coloring. It tolerates the hot, sunny exposures typical of Mediterranean regions. In shade, fruit production decreases significantly.
Soil
The jujube tree adapts to all soil types, even poor or stony ones. It prefers well-drained soils and even tolerates chalky and slightly saline soils. Enrich the soil when planting with compost, then little additional feeding will be necessary.
Pruning and shaping
Prune lightly after harvest to balance the shape and remove dead or diseased branches. The jujube tree fruits on the previous year's wood, so avoid severe pruning that would compromise fruiting. Gentle pruning in late winter is generally sufficient.
Fertilizing
The jujube tree is not demanding in terms of nutrients. An application of well-decomposed compost in spring every two years is enough. Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers that would favor foliage at the expense of fruit production.
Pests and diseases
This is a very robust tree, rarely affected by major diseases. Watch for excessive moisture that could lead to rot. A few insects may visit it without causing significant damage. Good air circulation and proper drainage prevent most problems.
Did you know?
The jujube tree has been cultivated for over 4,000 years in Asia, particularly in China where it is revered. Its fruits, called jujubes, inspired the name of a delicious candy and are traditionally used in Asian medicine for their supposed calming properties. In the West, the jujube remains a rarity, which adds to its charm and exotic appeal.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Alder buckthornFrangula alnus
- BuckthornRhamnus alaternus
- Indian jujubeZiziphus mauritiana
- BlueblossomCeanothus thyrsiflorus
- Feltleaf ceanothusCeanothus arboreus
- Point Reyes ceanothusCeanothus gloriosus
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.