Ziziphus Jujuba

Ziziphus jujuba, the jujube or Chinese date, is a thorny deciduous tree cultivated in China for more than four thousand years. Small fragrant yellow-green flowers are followed by glossy fruits that begin green and crisp with an apple-like flavour, then ripen red-brown and wrinkle into sweet, date-like morsels suitable for eating fresh, drying or cooking. Shiny leaves turn yellow in autumn. Hardy, drought tolerant and happy on alkaline soil, it needs the hottest available site in Britain because a long warm season is required for reliable fruit ripening.