Jujube
Ziziphus jujuba
Shrugs off heat, drought and poor soil.
Hardiness: zones 6 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 20 ft tall, 12 ft wide
Harvest: September to October
From: China
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: East Asia. Hardy in zones 6 to 10.
The story
Chinese dates have been grown along the Yellow River for 4,000 years and show up in the Classic of Poetry; dried, they sweetened winters and medicine chests across Asia. Frank Meyer brought the good varieties to the US in 1908, and they thrive where summers are long and hot.
Planting
Full sun and any drained soil, including poor and alkaline ground. Plant two varieties for a heavier crop; 'Li' and 'Lang' are the standards.
Growing
Water young trees; mature ones shrug off drought. It suckers from the roots, so mow or pull them. Prune lightly in late winter.
Harvest and use
Pick in late summer when the skin turns from green to mahogany; eat crisp like a small apple, or leave on the tree to wrinkle and sweeten into dates.
What to watch for
Almost nothing: thorns on some varieties and root suckers are the main complaints.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home