Common jujube is a deciduous tree or large shrub that is native from southeastern Europe to China growing 15 to 30 feet tall with a rounded or vase form. The branches typically have thorns and can be drooping in appearance. The fruit is edible and has been used in China for many years but is just becoming known in this country. The fruits mature from green with an apple-like texture and taste to a brownish-purple wrinkled fruit that is date-like. It can be eaten raw, dried or cooked. Fruit set may not occur in its northernmost zone due to a too-short growing season. This tree prefers warm and somewhat dry climates and is very tolerant of alkaline soils. It will grow in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained but moist soils. It will tolerate poor soils and drought. Use in an edible garden, Asian garden or naturalized setting.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-trunked; Rounded; Spreading; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Shine green leaves are .75-1.75 inches long and 0.4-1.2 inches wide. Ovate to lanceolate in shape with three conspicuous veins at the base. Tips are rounded. Fall color is sometimes yellow.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
3/16 inch inconspicuous white to yellowish-green fragrant flowers with 5 petals that bloom in the leaf axils. Bloom time is late spring to early summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
2/3- 1&1/4 inch oval to round drupe. When immature and green it has the flavor of an apple. Matures to brownish-purple and becomes wrinkled like a date. Contains a pit with 2 seeds.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Dark brown to dark gray bark is blocky, furrowed or scaly
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Brown stems with thorns
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
N. & E. China to S. Korea
Distribution
United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa.
Wildlife value
Attracts bees, butterflies, birds and small mammals.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Screening; Shade; Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
Fruits can be eaten fresh, dried or cooked
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used in Chinese and herbal medicine for its effects on the nervous system
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Edible Garden
Design feature
Shade Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#deciduous #edible fruits #small mammals #naturalized area #small tree #messy fruits #shrub #thorns #drought intolerant #shade tree #nectar plant late spring #butterfly friendly #bee friendly #bird friendly #Asian garden #poor soil tolerant