Simmondsia chinensis     
Jojoba   
Simmondaceae Family     

young Simmondsia chinensis specimen

Form: large, irregular shrub
Seasonality: evergreen
Size: 6-8ft with equal spread; slow growing, especially when young
Leaves: simple, oblong, coarse, leathery, blue-green, to 2.5in long; distinctive stiff, upward orientation to leaves, in pairs
Flowers: dioecious; small clusters of yellow flowers
Fruit: only on female plants when males are also present; berries, 1in diameter, brown, nut-like
Stems/Trunks: not significant

paired, upward-pointing leaves on Simmondsia chinensis

Range/Origin: southern California, Arizona, and Mexico
Hardiness: damaged at 20°F; killed to ground at low teens

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• hedge
• street medians
• privacy screen
• valuable agricultural plant for oil (from berries)

unripe berries

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun, reflected heat; in partial shade leaves will be bigger and plant less dense
• Water: natural rainfall (native to areas with less than 5in of rain per year); best when irrigated first year
• Soil: tolerant, good drainage
• Propagation: normally from fresh seed; also vegetatively
• Maintenance: low; shaping to form if desired; best pruned during warm season (after seed production)

NOTES:

mature male and female specimens

aka Goat Nut
very tough plant

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This page was first created August 24, 2001 and last modified June 6, 2007.

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email to: tmoore1@flash.net

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