Ziziphus celata (Florida Ziziphus, Ancient Ziziphus, Florida Jujube )
Botanical Information
Family | Rhamnaceae |
Genus | Ziziphus |
Species | celata |
Category | Woody |
Type | Shrub (deciduous) |
Origin | Native to the Lake Wales Ridge in Central Florida, United States of America. |
Details
USDA Hardiness Zone | 9a - 9b |
USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
RHS Hardiness Zone | H4 - H3 |
RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
Temperature (°C) | (-6.6) - (-3.8) |
Temperature (°F) | 20 - 25 |
Height | 1 - 2 m |
Spread | 1.2 - 2 m |
Flowering Period | January, February, March, April, May |
Description and Growing Information
General Description | A single or multi-stemmed woody shrub, 1 to 2 m in height. It has spiny, zigzag branches with small (less than 2.5 cm long) alternate leaves, that are shiny on their upper surface. |
ID Characteristic | This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds; it has fragrant flowers. |
Cultivation | Grows best with some shade to full sun and on a well-drained soils. |
Notable Specimens | Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida, United States of America. |
Leaf Description | Leaves, shiny on their upper surface. The leaves are deciduous, falling in December before flowering begins in early January. |
Flower Description | Tiny and perfect (containing both anthers and a pistil surrounded by a nectar ring). Mature plants bloom profusely, with flowers numbering in the tens of thousands. The fragrant flowers attract legions of insects, including flower flies, bees, wasps and butterflies. |
Fruit Description | Fruit is a drupe about 1 cm in length that turns yellow as it ripens in late May. |
Texture Description | The plant has spines. |