Jujube Tree (Ziziphus spinosa)

Origin: offered seedlings were grown from directly imported seeds originated in Chinese Shanxi province, Taigu county. The best for produce jujube saplings.
Description: deciduous tree or shrub reaching a height of 5 – 8 m, usually with thorny branches. The leaves are shiny-green, ovate-acute, 2 – 7 cm long and 1 – 3 cm wide, with three conspicuous veins at the base, and a finely toothed margin. The flowers are small, 5 mm wide, with five inconspicuous yellowish-green petals. The fruit is an edible oval drupe 1,5 - 2 cm deep. When immature it is smooth-green, with the consistency and taste of an apple, maturing brown to purplish-black, and eventually wrinkled, looking like a small date. There is a single hard kernel, similar to an olive, containing two seeds.
Usage: seeds of Ziziphus spinosa called Suan zao ren are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Suan zao ren nourishes the heart, dilates the blood in the liver and calms the mind. It is used to treat irritability, insomnia and heart palpitation.