Chinese jujube

 Ziziphus jujuba

A drought-tolerant shrub/small tree up to about 3.5 m tall with tasty fruits known as “Chinese dates”, which can be eaten both fresh and dried.

The shrubs leaf out and begin flowering only at the end of May, so they don’t suffer from late frosts. Flowering lasts up to 2 months, and the inconspicuous yellow flowers, thanks to the abundant nectar they produce, are a source of valued medicinal honey. Depending on the cultivar, the fruits ripen in August and September. They are self-fertile; however, yields are typically higher and fruits larger when several cultivars are planted together.

Ripening cultivar 'Li' (in Chinese: “pear”)

In vitro–propagated 'Dong Zhao' in a multi-cell tray

A 2-hectare commercial plantation of cultivars 'FELLINI' and 'No. 5', Emilia-Romagna region, Italy