Jujube: Ziziphus jujuba
varieties in this section generally share these traits (unless stated otherwise)
There are no significant pests or diseases that affect jujubes in the United States, but they do have a minor issue that is related to their environment. They are known for being fairly precocious, but production can be delayed in wet climates. This is particularly true for varieties that produce large fruit. While they are exceedingly drought resistant, supplemental irrigation during bloom, as well as exposure to sunlight throughout the day, may help improve this seemingly temporary problem.
Jujubes require minimal effort to manage. Furthermore, they wake up from dormancy late in the season, which helps them avoid frost damage. They do require a long grow season, though. The earliest ripening varieties should be prioritized in their more northern range. One site claims they can handle temperatures as low as -28F. It does appear that they cannot handle anything lower; however, some varieties may be able to thrive in hardiness zone 4b.
Jujubes require minimal effort to manage. Furthermore, they wake up from dormancy late in the season, which helps them avoid frost damage. They do require a long grow season, though. The earliest ripening varieties should be prioritized in their more northern range. One site claims they can handle temperatures as low as -28F. It does appear that they cannot handle anything lower; however, some varieties may be able to thrive in hardiness zone 4b.
Ant Admire
Blooms
💮
• ◦ afternoon blooming
Ripens
🍏
• early-mid?
Growth
• fewer thorns
Fruit
• oval/elongated
Autumn Beauty
Alias
• Qi Yue Xian
Ripens
🍏
• early
Fruit
• sweet/complex
• round, up to 2"
• round, up to 2"
The young fruit of Autumn Beauty are supposedly burgundy in color, but they turn green around or before they reach 1.5 centimeters in length.
Black Sea
selected in Yalta, Ukraine
Ripens
🍏
• early-mid?
Fruit
• very sweet
• round/oval
• round/oval
Afflictions
• Black Sea may produce semi-well at a young age in wet climates.
Bok Jo
originated in Korea
Ripens
🍏
• mid?
Growth
• large leaves
Afflictions
• Bok Jo produces well at a young age in wet climates.
While the sample size is small, Bok Jo appears to be one of the most consistent producers in wet climates.
Chico
Developed in California
Blooms
💮
• ◦ morning blooming
Ripens
🍏
• mid
Fruit
• sweet-tart
• medium, apple-shaped
• medium, apple-shaped
Coco
selected in Yalta, Ukraine
Ripens
🍏
• early-mid
Afflictions
• Coco may produce semi-well at a young age in wet climates.
there is evidence that the "coconut-like" flavor often mentioned by nurseries is somewhat legit, but it's supposedly quite mild. Almost no one talks about this variety. It could use more experimentation.
Contorted So
Originated in China. Imported to the US in 1914.
Blooms
💮
• ◦ morning blooming
• ~ 6mm in diameter
• ~ 0-2 per node (early section), 3-4 per node (mid section)
• ~ 6mm in diameter
• ~ 0-2 per node (early section), 3-4 per node (mid section)
Ripens
🍏
• early? (early-mid)
Growth
• contorted branches
Fruit
• round/oval, up to 1.25"
Afflictions
• So may produce semi-well at a young age in wet climates.
There may be more than one selection under the name of 'So' circulating the US.
GA 866
developed in Chico, California?
Blooms
💮
• ◦ afternoon blooming
• GA 866 may produce fewer flowers than most varieties.
• GA 866 may produce fewer flowers than most varieties.
Ripens
🍏
• mid-late?
Fruit
• very sweet
• elongated/oval, 1" x 2"
• elongated/oval, 1" x 2"
GA866 is known for being a very shy producer. It has been reported that one tree took 8 years and another 10 years to start producing fairly well.
GA866 produces very sweet fruit, up to 45 brix has been measured (low 20's to low 30's is fairly common). It may be one of the better varieties for drying, but plenty of others seem to be preferred for fresh eating.
Globe
Blooms
💮
• ◦ morning blooming
• ~ 5.8mm in diameter
• ~ 0-1 per node (early section), 2-3 per node (mid section)
• ~ 5.8mm in diameter
• ~ 0-1 per node (early section), 2-3 per node (mid section)
Ripens
🍏
• late?
Fruit
• cardboard
• large, probably around 2" in diameter
• Globe is most circular jujube I have seen.
• large, probably around 2" in diameter
• Globe is most circular jujube I have seen.
Honey Jar
Blooms
💮
• ◦ afternoon blooming
Ripens
🍏
• early? ◦ precocious
• may ripen later near the west coast
• may ripen later near the west coast
Fruit
• very sweet, crisp, juicy
• 1", round, rounded-square, or honeyjar-shaped
• 1", round, rounded-square, or honeyjar-shaped
Afflictions
• 'Honeyjar may produce semi-well at a young age in wet climates.
Honeyjar first becomes edible when the fruit turn yellow.
Lang
Originated in China. Imported to the US in 1908.
Blooms
💮
• ◦ morning blooming
• ~ 7mm in diameter
• ~ 1-2 per node (early section), 3-4 per node (mid section)
• ~ 7mm in diameter
• ~ 1-2 per node (early section), 3-4 per node (mid section)
Ripens
🍏
• early-mid
Growth
• fewer thorns
Fruit
• pear-shaped, 1.5"
Afflictions
• Lang may produce semi-well at a young age in wet climates.
Lang has a fairly poor reputation when it comes to fresh eating, and there are better varieties for drying as well.
Li
Originated in China. Imported to the US in 1914.
Blooms
💮
• ◦ afternoon blooming
• ~ 6.1mm in diameter
• ~ 1 per node (early section), 1-3 per node (mid section)
• ~ 6.1mm in diameter
• ~ 1 per node (early section), 1-3 per node (mid section)
Ripens
🍏
• mid
Growth
• fewer thorns
Fruit
• sweet to sweet-tart
• large, round/apple-shape
• large, round/apple-shape
Afflictions
• Li may produce semi-well at a young age in wet climates.
Li is quite variable in flavor, possibly more so than the average variety. It ranges from average to excellent, depending on climate/weather and the age of the tree (older is linked to better quality and possibly even earlier ripening).
Massandra
developed in Yalta, Ukraine
Ripens
🍏
• early (early-mid)
Fruit
• sabertooth-shaped, quite small
Shanxi Li
Blooms
💮
• ◦ afternoon blooming
• ~ 6.3mm in diameter
• ~ 0-2 per node (early section), 1-2 per node (mid section)
• ~ 6.3mm in diameter
• ~ 0-2 per node (early section), 1-2 per node (mid section)
Ripens
🍏
• mid? ◦ precocious
Fruit
• round, 2"
Afflictions
• Shanxi Li may produce semi-well at a young age in wet climates, but this may be limited to areas that are quite hot as well.
Sherwood
Discovered in Louisiana
Blooms
💮
• ◦ afternoon blooming
• ~ 6mm in diameter
• ~ 1-3 per node (early section), 6-8 per node (mid section)
• Sherwood may produce fewer flowers than most varieties.
• ~ 6mm in diameter
• ~ 1-3 per node (early section), 6-8 per node (mid section)
• Sherwood may produce fewer flowers than most varieties.
Ripens
🍏
• mid-late
Growth
• fewer thorns, large leaves
Fruit
• sweet
• oval/flat-top, 1" x 1.25"
• oval/flat-top, 1" x 1.25"
Sherwood tends to take longer than usual to start producing, especially if you are waiting for a heavy crop (7-10 years). This seems to be a problem in wet and dry climates. Sherwood is well liked in the western half of the US. I have only seen one report from the east, and it was poor.
Sihong
Blooms
💮
• ◦ afternoon blooming
• ~ 6.5mm in diameter
• ~ 0-3 per node (early section), 6-9 per node (mid section)
• ~ 6.5mm in diameter
• ~ 0-3 per node (early section), 6-9 per node (mid section)
Ripens
🍏
• mid ◦ precocious
Fruit
• sweet and complex
• round/apple/elongated/oval, roughly 1.5" x 1.5"
• round/apple/elongated/oval, roughly 1.5" x 1.5"
Sihong is considered to be one of the best for drying.
Sugar Cane
Blooms
💮
• ◦ morning blooming
• ~ 6.5mm in diameter
• ~ 0-2 per node (early section), 5-7 per node (mid section)
• self-sterile?
• ~ 6.5mm in diameter
• ~ 0-2 per node (early section), 5-7 per node (mid section)
• self-sterile?
Ripens
🍏
• early
Fruit
• very sweet
• oval, 1.2" x 1.4"
• oval, 1.2" x 1.4"
Tae Seoul Jo
originated in Korea
Ripens
🍏
• early-mid? (mid)
Fruit
• very sweet, juicy
Afflictions
• There is some evidence that Tae Seoul Jo can produce quite well at a fairly young age in wet climates.
Tigertooth
Ripens
🍏
• late?
Growth
• fewer thorns
Fruit
• elongated, 1" x 1.5"
Tigertooth and Silverhill are often considered to be the same variety. They may have some slight differences, but this could have been due to mislabeling.
Winter Delight
Alias
• Mango Dong Zho
Ripens
🍏
• late
Fruit
• up to 2"
Winter Delight is sometimes labeled as an early ripener, possibly due to a major nursery mislabeling Autumn Beauty as a Winter Delight in the past. It is, in fact, one of the last to ripen (hence its name).
Xu Zhou
originated in China
Ripens
🍏
• late
Fruit
• oval/elongated
Afflictions
• Xu Zhou may produce at least semi-well at a young age in wet climates.