Jujube: Three Varieties That Will Change the Way You See This Fruit

Huping, Chun and Fang Yuan No. 1 – tradition, flavour and resilience from China's Shanxi province, straight to your garden

The jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) is a fruit with a thousand-year history that has been finding its way into gardens across Europe in recent years – and for good reason. These trees offer exactly what the modern gardener is looking for: minimal maintenance, exceptional resilience, outstanding flavour, and a wealth of vitamins. In this article you will meet three varieties that represent the very best of Chinese jujube cultivation: the reliably productive 'Huping', the elegantly crisp 'Chun', and the giant 'Fang Yuan No. 1'.

Variety ‘Huping’ – The Golden Standard from Taigu

In the Taigu region – the heartland of Chinese jujube growing – the variety 'Huping' has been cultivated for generations and rightly carries the nickname "gold of Taigu". This is the variety you choose when you need absolute reliability: a rich harvest year after year, regardless of the weather.

The variety 'Huping' begins to fruit as early as the second year after planting, and a single mature tree can yield up to 50 kg of fruit per season. Ripening takes place gradually from mid-September through October, allowing a staggered harvest and weeks of fresh fruit on the table.

Variety ‘Chun’ – The Crispy Quality Standard from Shanxi Province

If 'Huping' represents productivity, then 'Chun' represents a taste experience. In its native Shanxi province it is regarded as the reference quality standard against which all other jujube varieties are measured. Its fruits are often described as natural "fruit sweets" – and that is no exaggeration.

The flavour of 'Chun' evokes a combination of fresh apple and sweet pear – crisp, juicy, with a delicate hint of acidity that makes it a truly outstanding autumn treat.

Like all varieties from the Taigu region, 'Chun' begins to fruit in the second year after planting, tolerates frosts down to -25 °C, and requires no chemical treatments once established. Its one apparent drawback – gradual ripening – easily turns into an advantage for home growers: fresh fruit on the table for several weeks running.

Variety ‘Fang Yuan No. 1’ – The Giant with Vitamin C

When we speak of 'Fang Yuan No. 1', we are talking about a new generation of jujube. This is not just a large fruit – it is modern breeding at its finest: maximum fruit size combined with fully preserved honeyed sweetness and an astonishing vitamin C content.

The vitamin C content of 'Fang Yuan No. 1' is truly staggering: more than 500 mg per 100 g – several times more than a lemon. Every fruit is a genuine vitamin bomb that supports the immune system and overall health. The combination of size, flavour and nutritional value makes this variety the ideal choice for commercial orchards as well as for gardeners who want to get the most out of every square metre.

Which Variety Should You Choose?

All three varieties share the same core strengths: late budding (protection against spring frosts), resistance to drought and extreme heat, natural resistance to diseases and pests, early onset of fruiting, and excellent storage life of dried fruit. If you have room in your garden for more than one tree, this trio is the ideal combination – they will mutually enhance pollination and guarantee a staggered, long-lasting harvest from mid-September onwards.