'ZigZag' Jujube

The Zig-Zag Jujube is as ornamental as it is productive, named for its distinctive angular branching that adds visual interest year-round. Native to China and cultivated for over 4,000 years, the jujube is also known as the “Chinese Date” for its sweet, versatile fruit.

Fruits ripen in late summer to early fall, starting out crisp and apple-like before maturing into wrinkled, chewy, date-like treats. Highly nutritious and rich in antioxidants, jujubes can be enjoyed fresh, dried, baked into desserts, or steeped for teas and tonics. The fruit has a long history in both cuisine and traditional medicine, where it’s valued for flavour and health benefits alike.

Compact at 10–15 feet tall, Zig-Zag Jujube is well-suited to smaller gardens and even large containers. Hardy to Zone 5, it thrives in full sun, bears heavily and tolerates heat and drought once established. 

Common names: ZigZag Jujube, Zig-Zag Jujube, Chinese Date, Red Date

Edible: Fruit
Harvest timing: Late summer - early fall 

Scientific name: Ziziphus jujuba ‘Zig-Zag’
Light requirements: Full sun 
Full-grown size: 10-15' tall x 8-12' wide
Hardiness: Zone 5 (-29ºC)
Pollination: Partially self-fertile, but plant with another jujube variety for best yields.
Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinators. 
Origin: Native to China.
Noteworthy: Can be grown in a large container.