Chico Jujube Tree – Grafted Live Fruit Plant – 2 ft Tall – 6 inch Pot

Overview

Introduce a truly unique and resilient fruit tree to your garden with the chico jujube tree. This exceptional cultivar, scientifically known as Ziziphus jujuba ‘Chico’, is celebrated for its distinctive apple-like fruit and balanced flavor profile. Unlike many other jujube varieties, the ‘Chico’ produces round, flattened fruits that resemble miniature green apples, making them a visually appealing addition to any landscape. This grafted jujube tree ensures robust growth and earlier fruiting, providing you with a head start on enjoying its delicious harvest. Originating from the USDA Plant Introduction Station in Chico, California, this variety is well-adapted to various climates and offers remarkable drought tolerance once established. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a fruit enthusiast looking for something new, the chico jujube tree is an excellent choice for its ornamental beauty and bountiful, flavorful harvest.

The jujube fruit plant is known for its hardiness and ease of care, thriving in hot, dry summers where many other fruit trees struggle. Its naturally bushy and spreading growth habit makes it an attractive specimen, even when not laden with fruit. The shiny, fine-textured foliage and unique zigzagging branches add year-round interest to your garden. This live plant is a fantastic investment for sustainable gardening, offering nutritious and versatile fruit that can be enjoyed fresh, dried, or used in various culinary applications. Experience the joy of growing your own exotic fruit with this remarkable grafted jujube tree.

Key Benefits

The chico jujube tree offers a multitude of benefits, combining ornamental appeal with delicious, healthy fruit production. It’s a low-maintenance choice that brings both beauty and bounty to your outdoor space.

• Unique Apple-like Fruit: Enjoy distinctive round, flattened fruits with a crisp, juicy texture and a refreshing sweet-tart flavor, making the apple-like jujube a favorite for fresh eating. Its unique appearance adds novelty to your fruit bowl.
• Exceptional Hardiness: This tree is incredibly resilient, tolerating temperatures down to -20°F (USDA Zones 5-10). It thrives in hot climates and is highly drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for a wide range of environments.
• Ornamental Value: Beyond its fruit, the chico jujube tree boasts attractive zigzagging branches and glossy foliage, providing year-round visual interest in your garden or as a container plant.
• Versatile Harvest: Fruits can be enjoyed fresh when green with reddish-brown blush, or dried to create a chewy, date-like treat. This versatility allows for various culinary uses throughout the year.
• Easy to Grow: As a grafted tree, it establishes quickly and begins fruiting sooner. It requires minimal care once planted, making it an excellent choice for both experienced and novice gardeners.
• Drought Tolerance: Once mature, the jujube fruit plant is very drought-tolerant, reducing the need for frequent watering and making it a sustainable choice for water-wise landscapes.
• Adaptable Growth: While it can reach 15-30 feet in the ground, it can be easily maintained at 8-10 feet with pruning, and is an excellent candidate for large patio pots, offering flexibility for different garden sizes.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your new chico jujube tree is relatively straightforward, as these trees are known for their resilience and adaptability. To ensure optimal growth and fruit production, understanding its basic needs is key. Upon arrival, carefully unpack your grafted jujube tree. Choose a planting location that receives full sun, ideally 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, as this is crucial for abundant fruiting. While the ‘Chico’ variety is hardy, providing some initial protection in very cold zones during its first winter can be beneficial. Ensure the soil is well-draining, as jujubes do not like wet feet. A sandy loam or loamy soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH is ideal.

Watering should be consistent during the tree’s establishment phase, typically the first year after planting. Once established, the jujube fruit plant is remarkably drought-tolerant and will require less frequent watering, especially in areas with natural rainfall. However, supplemental watering during prolonged dry spells will encourage better fruit development. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer designed for fruit trees. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant. Focus on removing dead or crossing branches, and shape the tree to maintain its desired size and encourage air circulation, which helps prevent disease. Be mindful that this variety does have thorns, so wear protective gloves when handling.

The ziziphus jujuba chico is highly resistant to most pests and diseases, further simplifying its care. Monitor for any signs of stress, such as yellowing leaves or stunted growth, and adjust your care routine as needed. With proper care, your chico jujube tree will provide many years of delicious harvests and ornamental beauty. Remember the importance of good drainage and ample sunlight for this resilient fruit bearer.

Size & Details

This chico jujube tree is a live, grafted plant, approximately 2 feet tall from the base of the pot to the tip of its tallest branch. It is shipped in a 6-inch nursery pot, providing a healthy root system ready for transplanting. Grafted trees like this one tend to fruit earlier than seed-grown plants, often within 1-3 years after planting. In ideal ground conditions, a mature jujube fruit plant can reach heights of 15–30 feet, though it can be easily maintained at a more manageable 8–10 feet with regular pruning, making it suitable for smaller gardens or as a specimen tree. For container growing, a large pot (35 liters or more) is recommended to allow for adequate root development and growth of this apple-like jujube.

The ‘Chico’ variety exhibits a bushy, spreading growth habit, contrasting with more upright types. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing you to enjoy its development without it becoming unruly too quickly. The fruits typically ripen in late summer to early fall, turning from a vibrant green to about 80% reddish-brown when ready for harvest. This ziziphus jujuba chico is an investment that will continue to yield delicious, unique fruits for many seasons to come, adding both charm and productivity to your home orchard or edible landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this chico jujube tree get? A: In the ground, it can reach 15-30 feet tall, but it can be easily maintained at 8-10 feet with pruning. It is also suitable for growing in large containers, where its size can be more restricted.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This grafted jujube tree is shipped in a 6-inch nursery pot, providing a well-established root system for successful planting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The chico jujube tree is an outdoor fruit tree. It thrives in full sun and is very hardy, suitable for USDA Zones 5-10, making it an excellent choice for a garden or patio.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For optimal fruit production and healthy growth, this jujube fruit plant requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the chico jujube tree is known for its remarkable hardiness and low maintenance requirements once established. It is drought-tolerant and generally resistant to pests and diseases.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your ziziphus jujuba chico will arrive as a healthy, live grafted plant in its nursery pot, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey.
• Q: How long until it fruits? A: As a grafted tree, you can typically expect your chico jujube tree to begin producing fruit within 1-3 years after planting, depending on growing conditions.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this tree? A: The best time to plant your grafted jujube tree is in spring after the last frost, or in early fall before the ground freezes, allowing it time to establish its root system.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This hardy jujube fruit plant can survive temperatures down to -20°F, making it suitable for USDA Zones 5-10. It is well-adapted to cold winters in these zones.
• Q: What does the fruit taste like? A: The ‘Chico’ jujube is prized for its crisp texture and a delicious sweet-tart flavor, often described as an apple-like jujube, making it excellent for fresh eating.