Latin name - Ziziphus mauritiana 

Jujube is the closest thing to a green apple that you can grow in a tropical south Florida yard!  No fussing with chill hours, spraying, or pests– In fact, the Jujube is one of the most resilient trees I’ve come across.  The first time I tasted one was in 2017, and it immediately struck me as one of those trees that are a must-have for Florida fruit collectors.  

Also known as Chinese Date, there are two main species of Jujube in cultivation.  For Florida growers, we are talking about Ziziphus mauritiana, also called Indian Jujube*.  The Indian Jujube produces well in tropical/subtropical zones, with green, apple-like fruit maturing in December & January (though sometimes they can fruit in other seasons).  They are crunchy, juicy, and sweet, with a shiny thin skin very much resembling an apple.  When eaten at peak ripeness, the flavor is pure sugar with a refreshing crunch.  Jujube trees produce abundantly, with each branch producing clusters of sweet fruit.

The Jujube trees we have for sale are a grafted cultivar called “Thai Giant”, known for its large and tasty fruit.  The growing habit of a Jujube tree is vigorous, upright at first, then turning into a weeping form especially when bearing fruit.  There are tiny thorns along some parts of the branches, not enough to be a big concern, but definitely wear gloves when pruning your Jujube tree.  The trick to maintaining them is to prune heavily once or twice per year– the flowers and fruit appear on new growth, so you can literally cut it to a single trunk every year and it will grow right back, keeping tree size manageable and fruit within an easy reach.  

Plant a Jujube tree in your yard and wow your friends and family with a fruit they’ve never seen before, but with a sweetness and texture that’s all too familiar!  

*Note:  Most information you will find online about Jujubes is referring to Ziziphus jujuba, as this is the species grown in temperate zones– disregard this info! It is a separate species, not as ideal for South Florida.  Always reference the Latin names of plants when researching online, as it is easy to be mislead when an article is talking about a different species!

Size: 10-15 ft, prune annually

Sun Requirements:  Full sun

Cold Hardy: 0 degrees Fahrenheit

Harvest Season:  Winter

Watering requirements:  Drought tolerant once established