Lang jujube

Zizyphus jujuba 'Lang'

Lang jujubes have large, pear-shaped, flavorful fruit which must be fully colored for best eating. You can let the fruit dry on the tree and eat them like dates, when they will be intensely sweet. Jujubes are pretty trees with glossy green leaves that turn yellow in the autumn. Called “Chinese Date”, these grafted trees will grow to 20’ or more but can be maintained much smaller. They are very productive and early bearing. The fruit needs hot summers to ripen well. In cooler summers pick it half brown and half green and bring it inside to finish ripening. Somewhat less thorny than many other varieties.

Grow in full sun. Rootstock can sucker in the early years, so keep any suckering shoots cut as soon as you see them. Offer regular water during establishment - considered drought tolerant once established. Tolerant of sea spray. Usually more productive in USDA zones 8 and above. Considered low chill, needing only 400 hours of temperatures between 32F-45F to reliably flower and bear fruit. Late to leaf out each spring.