Autumn Beauty Jujube is a small, deciduous, fruit tree that produces 2 inch large jujube fruits. The round, dark chocolate brown fruit has a very sweet, spicy apple-like flavour, a crisp texture, and contains a single stone within. This popular, early ripening Chinese variety features abundant crops. Fruit ripens in October when the skin slightly wrinkles and changes to a pleasant burgundy colour. Jujube can be eaten fresh, juiced, candied, cooked, smoked, made into syrup, wine, and marmalade. Autumn Beauty Jujube is particularly great for fresh eating, and drying. The foliage is glossy and the branches are contorted, giving the tree an attractive appearance. Leaves turn yellow in the fall. Autumn Beauty Chinese date is a smaller variety of Jujube that can grow well in containers. This cultivar is also supposed to ripen earlier, making it the perfect variety for northern areas with a shorter growing season. Small, fragrant, yellow flowers appear between June and July. Ziziphus jujuba ‘Autumn Beauty’ is partially self-fertile but will have more successful fruit production with another variety planted nearby. Autumn Beauty Red Date tree is tolerant to drought and hot climates but should be kept moist for optimal fruit production. This uncommon fruit tree is surprising low maintenance and easy to grow.
