Indian jujube

tree

Also known as: Ziziphus mauritiana, cottony jujube

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) is a shrub or small tree native to southeastern Asia that is cultivated in the southeastern United States. It is a variety of the jujube, a plant known for its fruit, which can be eaten fresh, dried, or used in various culinary preparations.12

The Indian jujube's fruit is described as globose and dark red. While the common jujube (Z. jujuba) has larger, sweeter fruits, the Indian jujube's fruits are smaller and less sweet. Both species thrive in hot, dry climates and are known for their pest resistance.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

jujube
The Indian, or cottony, jujube (Z. mauritiana) differs from the common jujube in having leaves that are woolly beneath instead of smooth. The fruits are smaller and not so sweet.
Read More
The Indian, or cottony, jujube (Z. mauritiana) differs from the common jujube in having leaves that are woolly beneath instead of smooth. The fruits are smaller and not so sweet.
Read More