Paliurus ramosissimus aka Maritime Jujuba

Paliurus ramosissimus, known as Ma Jia Zi, belongs to Rhamnaceae. Its native range runs from southern China into temperate East Asia. PFAF also lists Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam in its range. It grows beside roads and rivers in parts of China. Kew records its form as a shrub or tree. PFAF describes a deciduous shrub reaching about 20 feet [6 metres]. It loses its leaves rather than keeping them year-round.

The branches bear thorns, which matter when choosing a planting site. PFAF lists July as the flowering month. Each flower has both male and female organs. Seeds ripen later, from October through November. The supplied species evidence gives no leaf shape or bark details. It also lacks a species-level account of flower colour or fruit shape. These traits should not be inferred from the broader genus description.

Choose a sunny site with moist soil for this plant. PFAF says it will not grow in shade. It accepts sandy soil, loam and clay in garden settings. Its soil pH range runs from mildly acid to very alkaline. It favours soil that contains lime. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 6–9. A sunny woodland edge or hedge suits its listed garden uses. Growers in China use it for hedges. Its hard wood also serves for making farm tools. Another recorded use mixes twig ash with oil for washing hair.

PFAF gives no known food uses and rates edibility at zero. It reports no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. The same source records several traditional medicinal uses. People apply leaf poultices to ulcers and abscesses. They use the fruit to promote urine flow. Other records describe roots for sore throats, swelling and internal injuries. Flowers and thorny branches also appear in treatments for sores and swelling. These are reports of use, not proof that treatments work.

Seed, cuttings and layering offer ways to raise new plants. PFAF advises sowing ripe seed in a cold frame. Young seedlings spend their first winter in a greenhouse. They can move outdoors in early summer. Half-ripe cuttings can be taken in July or August. The source also lists root cuttings taken in December. It reports fair to good results from seed and root cuttings. PFAF does not flag this species as weedy.