Also known as Chinese dates, Li Jujube has sweet reddish brown, oval fruits that taste like dates. Good dried or especially good fresh, where it can be eaten early when yellow/green. Small, glossy leaved tree. Leafs out late spring and blooms in early summer. Tolerant of extreme heat, drought and winter temperatures to minus 10F. Precocious and self-fertile. Thorny. Zone 6-9
ZONE: 6-9
POLLINATION/BLOOM TIME: Leafs out very late in spring. Blooms with tiny green fragrant flowers midsummer. Self-fertile but more productive with another jujube.
RECOMMENDED GROWING AND CARE:
REQUIRES full sun, regular heat, balanced moisture during establishment; reduce grass competition in root zone. Top dress with compost occasionally. Will tolerate extreme heat and poor soils and still fruit well. No pruning needed. Only remove dead wood, suckers below graft union, and spreading root suckers that may spring up around root zone. Exclude ants at every opportunity. Trees drought tolerant once established - can produce on 8" of rain yearly, but need 20"+ during initial 5 years in-ground. Mid to late season ripening.
CHILL HOURS: 400 hours below 45F
DISEASE RESISTANCE: Very good.
SIZE AT MATURITY: To 25’
