Ziziphus jujuba 'Li'
Light: Full sun; provide at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily for best fruit production.
Water: Deeply water young trees regularly while roots establish. Established trees tolerate drought, but consistent deep irrigation during flowering and fruit development improves yields. Let the upper several inches of soil dry between waterings; avoid prolonged saturation.
Soil: Well-drained sandy loam preferred; tolerates alkaline desert soils and a range of soil textures. Avoid poorly drained sites and keep mulch away from the trunk.
Mature size: Typically 15–25 feet tall and 10–20 feet wide; can grow larger if unpruned. Prune to maintain a smaller harvesting height.
Bloom: Small flowers appear in late spring through early summer, sometimes continuing intermittently into summer. Fruit generally ripens in late summer to fall in Phoenix.
Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous; leafs out relatively late in spring.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast with adequate irrigation; slower under dry conditions.