Jujube is a long-term planting — a young tree typically takes about three years to bear its first real fruit, and then produces for years. It's hardy across USDA zones 6 through 10, stands up to deer and handles dry spells once it's established. Its flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the fruit is the prize.
Zones
6-10
pH Range
5-9
Sun
Full Sun
To First Harvest
~3 yr
Score Jujube on your exact land.
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What Jujube is
Jujube grows as a perennial and reaches around 25 feet at maturity. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Jujube
Jujube grows in USDA zones 6 through 10 and takes about three years to begin bearing. Jujube does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 9, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,500 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 365 frost-free days, and about 100 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
6-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 9
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
46.4°F
plant_species_v5.csv
To First Harvest
~3 years
Jujube; very low-chill; drought-tolerant; zone 6+. ~3 yr from grafted whip.
USDA-NRCS; UC-Fruit
GDD Required
2500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
25 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
100+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
365+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set jujube in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Jujube prefers pH 5 to 9 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Jujube takes about three years to its first meaningful harvest (USDA-NRCS; UC-Fruit). Prune annually while it establishes, and the tree will then crop for years.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — jujube isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Jujube offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Jujube thrives
Jujube is hardy across USDA zones 6 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 6–10·Where Jujube growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Jujube can grow in these states:
See if Jujube will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether jujube actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Jujube in my zone?
Jujube grows in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long until Jujube bears fruit?
Jujube typically takes about three years after planting to bear its first real crop, then produces for years (USDA-NRCS; UC-Fruit). Soil, climate, and rootstock all shift the timeline.
When should you plant Jujube?
Set jujube out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Jujube need?
Jujube needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Jujube need?
Jujube prefers soil pH 5 to 9, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Jujube attract pollinators?
Yes — jujube's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Jujube safe for pets?
Jujube is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.