Key Features
- Dark-fruited jujube variety with an attractive, date-like appearance when mature
- Deciduous fruit tree with a naturally rounded or spreading growth habit
- Produces small edible fruits that can be enjoyed fresh or dried
- Thrives in warm locations with plenty of direct sunlight
- Suitable for edible gardens, fruit landscapes, and naturalized garden settings
Growing Benefits
- Adds an unusual fruit tree to home garden collections
- Offers attractive foliage and seasonal fruit production
- Adapts well to a range of well-drained soil types
- Provides food and habitat for beneficial garden wildlife
- Suitable for gardeners interested in growing distinctive fruit trees
Seed Specifications
Common Name: Black Jujube, Chinese Date, Common Jujube
Botanical Name: Ziziphus jujuba
Plant Type: Deciduous fruit tree or large shrub
Colors: Green immature fruit, developing brownish-purple to dark mature fruit; green foliage
Height: Commonly around fifteen to thirty feet at maturity
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade; full sun is preferred for fruit production
Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy, clay, or alkaline soil; tolerates a range of soil conditions
Water: Moderate during establishment; allow soil to drain well between watering
Germination Time: Variable and potentially slow because of the hard seed coat
Sowing Depth: Shallow sowing, approximately one-quarter to one-half inch deep
Spacing: Allow generous room for the mature tree's spreading canopy
Growing Zones: Generally suitable for USDA Zones six through nine
Flowering/Maturity: Small flowers appear during the growing season; fruit develops afterward and matures toward late summer or fall
Uses: Edible fruit gardens, home landscapes, wildlife gardens, specimen planting, and naturalized settings
Growing Tips
- Soak or properly prepare the hard seed coat before sowing to encourage water absorption.
- Use a loose, well-draining seed-starting medium and avoid keeping it waterlogged.
- Keep newly sown seeds warm and evenly moist while waiting for germination.
- Transplant young seedlings carefully once they are established and actively growing.
Seed Storage
Keep seeds clean and completely dry before storage. Place them in a labeled airtight container and store in a cool, dry, dark location away from heat and moisture. Avoid repeatedly exposing stored seeds to humidity or temperature changes.
Unique Facts About the Seeds
- Jujube seeds have a hard protective covering that can make germination slow or uneven.
- The fruit changes from green and crisp to brownish-purple and wrinkled as it matures.
- A mature jujube fruit contains a hard pit that may contain seeds.
- Jujube trees are naturally adapted to warm, relatively dry conditions and can tolerate alkaline soils.