Tree NW-I-2 is a Giant Thai jujube tree, obtained in 2015 from Fruitscapes Nursery on Pine Island. The Giant Thai variety produces large fruits— by jujube standards— perfect for eating out of hand when first breaking yellow color from its green stage. NW-I-2 took a severe hit from hurricane Irma in 2017, but came back strong and produced its first market fruit in January, 2019.
It’s fair to say that jujube is a much underutilized fruit. With its moderately sweet apple-like texture and flavor, it’s a refreshing, easy-to-eat winter treat.
Jujube fruiting season is short, just a few weeks, and the trees are extremely vigorous growers, and carry thorns— not your ideal edible landscaping tree. Still, for those with a large back yard and a good tree saw, it’s a productive and very hardy Florida Fruit.