Ziziphus mauritiana aka Indian Jujube

Ziziphus mauritiana is an evergreen tree in the Rhamnaceae family. Its common names include Indian jujube, Malay jujube and ber. Its native range includes Cape Verde and the Sahara. It extends through the Sahel to Tanzania, and from southern Iran to Australia. It grows in seasonally dry tropical regions. Farmers grow it for fruit across Southeast Asia and elsewhere. It is distinct from the temperate Chinese jujube.

The tree has many branches, thorns and a wide crown. The listed height is about 33 feet [10 metres]. Larger trees can reach 49 feet [15 metres]. Harsh conditions can keep it shrub-sized, at 10–13 feet [3–4 metres]. Its trunk can exceed 1.3 feet [0.4 metres] across. Suckers can grow around the tree and form dense thickets. Its growth rate is moderate. Bees and wasps pollinate its flowers.

The fruit ranges from round to oblong, with pale flesh. It can reach about two inches long and one inch wide. Its skin changes through yellow-orange or brown, becoming black when ripe. The taste ranges from sour to sweet. People eat the fruit fresh or preserve it. They also crush it for drinks or make pastes and meal. Unripe fruit is eaten with salt. The sweet seeds are eaten raw, while young leaves are cooked. The source lists no known hazards, but gives no detailed toxicity assessment.

This tree grows in both humid and hot, dry climates. It occurs on sandy ground, in coastal scrub and limestone woodland. It also grows along rivers and on hillsides. Hot sun and dry weather help fruit quality. Seasonal rain supports new shoots and flowers. Stored soil moisture then helps the fruit develop. One source reports mature trees surviving brief dry cold near 5°F. Yet frost near 30°F can kill young growth. These reports do not establish a reliable garden hardiness zone.

Its value extends beyond the fruit crop. Bark and leaves supply tannins, and bark yields dyes. The hard, strong wood serves for building, furniture and tool handles. The source also records traditional medicinal uses for the fruit. Those uses do not establish that treatments are effective. In a garden, its spreading crown gives it a broad form. Its thorns and suckering growth are traits to consider when choosing space.