Sugarcane Jujube lives up to its name with fruit so intensely sweet it tastes like candy straight from the tree. This cultivar of Zizyphus jujuba ripens early on a spiny but surprisingly ornamental plant, bearing small to medium reddish-brown dates that emerge in fall. Hardy from zones 6 to 10, these grafted trees grow to 20 feet or taller but respond well to pruning, making them adaptable to smaller gardens. The glossy green foliage turns brilliant yellow in autumn, offering year-round visual interest beyond the remarkable fruit.
Full Sun
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6-10
216in H x ?in W
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High
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Early ripening and exceptional sweetness make this jujube stand out from standard varieties. The small to medium fruit is so sugary it's enjoyable fresh, without the mealy texture or mild flavor of less refined cultivars. These trees are remarkably productive and begin bearing young, rewarding patient growers with abundant harvests. The ornamental quality of the glossy leaves and dramatic fall color transforms it from a purely utilitarian fruit tree into a landscape asset.
The fruit is primarily enjoyed fresh as a sweet snack, eaten straight from the tree or added to fruit bowls. The extreme sweetness and candy-like flavor also makes it suitable for drying, though most growers prefer consuming it fresh when the texture and juice are at their peak.
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Transplant grafted jujubes in early spring, before bud break. Choose a location with full sun and excellent drainage. Space trees 15 to 20 feet apart, though single specimens adapt to pruning for smaller spaces. Harden off container trees by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before final planting.
Harvest fruit in fall when the skin turns reddish-brown and the flesh yields slightly to gentle pressure. The early ripening cycle typically begins in September and continues through November, with individual fruits ripening over several weeks. Handpick ripe fruit by grasping the stem just above the fruit to avoid spine injury. The fruit is ready to eat immediately when harvested at peak sweetness, though it will continue to soften slightly after picking.
Prune Sugarcane Jujube in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches, and thin the canopy to improve air circulation and light penetration. These trees respond well to size reduction and can be maintained much smaller than their natural 20-foot-plus height through annual pruning. Be cautious of the abundant spines when pruning; use heavy gloves and long sleeves.
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