Native & adapted

Indian jujube

Ziziphus mauritiana

Also known as Ber · Apple ber · Chinese apple · Taiwan apple jujube · Táo

An evergreen, heat-loving relative of the Chinese jujube with crisp, apple-like fruit in winter. It shrugs off Phoenix heat and drought but is more frost tender than its Chinese cousin.

EdibleFruitingEvergreenHeat tolerantLow waterThorny

Landscape layersLower canopy

Mature size

15–25 ft tall and 15–20 ft wide; easy to hold at 10–12 ft with pruning

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b

Plant spacing

12–15 ft from other trees

Frost

Leaves and young wood damaged near 28°F; established trees recover from brief freezes in the mid-20s°F.

Special categories

EDIBLE · ARID ADAPTED

Hardiness guidance

USDA 9b–11; young trees damaged near 28°F

Winter chill

None

Typical harvest

Fruit ripens from December through March, picked when it turns from green to yellow-green.

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Soil chemistry

Very tolerant of poor, alkaline and salty soil as long as it drains.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

Warmest part of the yard. Cover young trees on frost nights.

Cold hardiness

Cover in a hard freeze below 28°F

Mature trees handle the upper 20s°F without serious damage, but young trees need cover at 32°F. Cover established trees too in a hard freeze, since the winter crop is still hanging then.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 28°F

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

Built for heat, it handles 115°F and full west sun. In a very hot summer it may drop leaves for a few weeks, which is normal.

Sources:

growables.com , growables.org

Right plant, right place

Will Indian jujube grow at your Arizona property?

Thorny branches and fast growth. Keep it away from paths, and choose grafted named varieties for the best fruit.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun, including hot west exposure.

Water

Irrigation

Low to moderate. Deep water every 7 to 10 days in summer while fruit forms; it tolerates drought once established.

Fruit set

Pollination

Insect pollinated. Many named varieties set better with a second variety nearby.

Harvest

How to use it

Eaten fresh like a crisp apple, or dried, pickled and made into candy.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Indian jujube thrive

1
Prune hard after harvest in spring to keep fruit within reach; it fruits on new growth.
2
Remove suckers below the graft.
3
Protect young trees from frost for the first two or three winters.
4
Wear gloves when pruning; the spines are sharp.

Read the horticultural reference ↗