Ziziphus jujuba, Ziziphus sativa, Ziziphus vulgaris, Zizyphus mauritiana
Family: Rhamnaceae
Indian Jujube, Chinese Date
Origin: China to Afghanistan, Malaysia
These small acid fruits are liked by children as well as by adults. A small spreading tree, with drooping branches grows readily and quickly on poor ground. Even moderately saline soils are tolerated. The tree will thrive without any special care. All parts of the plant have medicinal uses. Jujube is widely cultivated China and India. The Chinese have been growing and eating jujubes for more than four thousand years and have more jujube trees than any other type of fruit tree. From Indian legends, the tree is hard because it’s blessed with a boon that no matter how badly it was cut, it will not die, and even if a single root of it was left, it will spring up again… In India, the tree is held sacred: fruits are offered to Siva, and the plant is known as the “Tree which removes sorrow”. Cold hardy, mature plants withstand hard freeze.
