Growing jujube
berry / bush fruit
Pollination
Some cultivars are self-fertile; most crop noticeably better with a second variety.
Growing it
Zones 6-10. Extremely tough - heat, drought, poor soil - and needs a hot summer to sweeten. Fresh fruit tastes like a sweet apple.
Where jujube grows best
Hardy in zones 6-10, and it needs enough winter cold - about 100-400 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wyoming.
Will you get enough chill?
Jujube needs roughly 100–400 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does jujube grow in?
Jujube grows in USDA hardiness zones 6-10.
How many chill hours does jujube need?
Roughly 100-400 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does jujube need a pollinator?
Partly self-fertile — crops much better with a partner. Some cultivars are self-fertile; most crop noticeably better with a second variety.
Which states can grow jujube?
Jujube suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland and 13 more, and parts of 19 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.