Ziziphus jujuba, commonly known as jujube or Chinese date, is a deciduous shrub to tree-like plant that belongs to the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae. Z. jujuba is native to southern Asia, although the specific habitat location is not known due to its prolific distribution across the land. Ziziphus jujuba is known to grow 20 to 40 feet tall with thorny branches. The leaves are simple and ovately shaped with three detailed veins and finely serrated margins. The leaves measure 1 to 2 inches long and ⅜ to 1 inch broad with a shiny green epidermis. Ziziphus jujuba blooms in late spring to early summer with small inconspicuous whitish green flowers that have 5 petals. The fruit are shaped like ovals with green skin that turns more brownish red when ripened and have a single pit in the center. Ziziphus jujuba is grown as a food crop for its edible fruit. Jujube fruits are commonly consumed all over the world freshly, dried, and pickled. This species grows best in full sun to partial shade, sitting in well draining soils. They can tolerate wide ranges of soil types and pH levels. Ziziphus jujuba does require hot summers and adequate waterings for higher yields in fruit. The tree is drought tolerant however, needing minimal water after establishment and fruiting. USDA plant hardiness zone 6a to 9b.
Ziziphus jujuba seeds require a cold stratification pretreatment to germinate reliably. This may be achieved by leaving seeds in a small amount of moist, but not soaking wet, sterilized peat moss, vermiculite, or sand inside a refrigerator for 2 to 3 months. Next bring water to a boil then take it off the heat for a few moments until boiling ceases. Immediately after the boiling stops, add the seeds to the water and let cool to room temperature. Let treated seeds soak in room temperature water for 24 to 36 hours prior to planting, changing water occasionally to avoid bacteria and fungal growth. Sow seeds ½ inch deep in the potting mixture. Sown seeds require consistent moisture and humidity to germinate, but the soil should not remain soaking wet. The soil should be moist and well-draining with high organic matter. Germinating pots should be kept indoors, out of extreme light and heat. Ideal germination temperatures range from 60°F to 75°F. Germination typically takes 3 to 5 weeks to occur. Even with optimal conditions, germination may be slow and sporadic.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING DISCLAIMER:
All packages will be shipped with basic customs information such as; HS codes, VAT numbers, and properly labeled contents. Unfortunately, The Garden of Set is unable to provide phytosanitary certificates for orders at this time. It is the buyer’s responsibility to know local laws regarding the import of plants, seeds, and plant products into their country. It is also up to the buyer to provide any other customs forms or information required to import plants into their country. If packages get stopped by customs, The Garden of Set will not be able to provide a refund for the purchase. Most of the time packages make it to their destinations just fine, this is for the small minority of packages that get stopped without having all the proper customs information required by the country of import. Purchase at your own discretion.