Simmondsia chinensis - JOJOBA
Jojoba plants are hardy, evergreen shrubs native to the Sonoran Desert, typically growing 3–10 feet tall with a rounded, bushy shape and thick, blue-green leaves. They thrive in full sun and are drought-resistant, with small, non-ornamental male and female flowers blooming in winter. The female plants produce an acorn-shaped nut that contains seeds rich in oil. Packet of 20 seeds.
Details
Common Names: Jojoba, Goatnut, Quinine Plant, Coffeeberry, Coffee Bush, hohowi, (O'odham)
Botanical Names: Simmondsia chinensis, Buxus chinensis, Simmondsia californica
Name Meaning:
- Simmondsia: Honors English botanist and physician Norman Willison Simmonds (1922-2002).
- chinensis: Species epithet is an error from a collection label that originally said "Calif." but was misread as "China".
Plant Family: Simmondsiaceae (jojoba)
Native Range: North America (Sonoran Desert and Colorado Desert in California, Arizona, and northwestern Mexico to 4,900 ft. elevation)
Grow Zone (Hardiness): 8 - 11 (20°F) Protect young plants from freezing. Find my zone
Bloom: Greenish-yellow flowers are produced in late winter/early spring, followed by brown, nut-like, oil-rich seeds (female plants only).
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well-draining
Water: Low
Growth Rate/Habit: Slow to moderate/Rounded, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree.
Mature Size: 3-7 ft. tall x 4-7 ft. wide
We recommend planting these in our Cactus/Succulent Soil.
Propagation Tips:
- Sow seeds: Plant seeds about 1 inch deep in well-draining soil. Jojoba seeds do not require any pretreatment.
- Germination: Keep the soil moist until germination, which usually takes 20 to 30 days.