Seed of the Week: Jujube or Chinese Date

Our wrinkly mystery “nuts” in the wrinkly fruit last week were from jujube or Chinese date, Ziziphus zizyphus (older: Ziziphus jujuba).

Jujube have interesting fruit.

jujube-fruit-close

At first the fruit look (and smell) like a oval apple.

jujube-fruit

Over time the fruit become reddish brown and wrinkly, as you can see towards the top in this photograph.

mystery-seed-170-fruit

Once dried, they look like dates.

mystery-seed-170-1

Inside the fruit is a “nut” or “pit” rather like from an olive. It turns out that I mislead you last week because this is not really the seed.

jujube-nut

(Illustration by L.H. @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)
As you can see from this drawing, inside the “nut” are two seeds lying side by side. It would require a sharp knife and patience to get them out.

jujube-tree-1

The tree looks somewhat like a spindly pear tree and has similar growth habits. It is deciduous in the winter and requires a brief chill to properly set fruit. Although originally from Asia, they do grow in the low deserts of Arizona.

Have you ever seen a jujube? Did you try the fruit? What did you think of it?

4 Comments

  1. J.H.Lee

    Could you please inform us the supplier to Korea ?
    We’re going to purchase it jujube seed.

  2. Roberta

    I found several sources online, using the keywords jujube seed in my search engine (Google). You might also try buying some fruit and starting the seeds from those, because the seeds will grow (although they might not be exactly the same as the parent).

  3. J.H.Lee

    We want to purchasing Jujube seed , could you please inform us the competitive price and terms ?
    Kindly.
    Ati Korea / J.H.Lee

  4. Roberta

    Sorry, I have no seeds. The plant in the photograph belongs to my neighbor.

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