Jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis

About Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) 26 Nurseries Carry This Plant

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Jojoba; Goatnut (Simmondsia chinensis) is a common native shrub that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Peninsular Range and Sonoran Desert regions. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in a rounded form to a height of 7 feet, with active growth during the summer and fall. Flowers are yellow and bloom in the late spring. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, the "goatnut" fruits only being found on female plants with male plants nearby. Leaves are medium green, and remain on the plant throughout the year. It tends to grow in rocky and sandy soils, at elevations from 0-4900 feet.

Plantations of jojoba have been established in a number of desert and semi-desert areas, predominantly in Argentina, Australia, Israel, Mexico, Peru and the United States. It is currently the Sonoran Desert's second most economically valuable native plant (overshadowed only by Washingtonia filifera, California fan palms, which are used as ornamental trees).

Jojoba prefers light, coarsely textured soils. Good drainage and water penetration is necessary. It tolerates salinity and poor-nutrient soils. Soil pH should be between 5 and 8. High temperatures are tolerated by jojoba, but frost can damage or kill plants. Requirements are poor because jojoba plants do not need an intensive Weed problems only occur during the first two years after planting and there is little damage by insects. Supplemental irrigation could maximize production if rainfall is less than 400 mm. There is no need for high fertilization, but, especially in the first year, nitrogen increases growth.

Plant Description

Plant Type

Shrub

Size

3 - 7 ft tall
4 - 7 ft wide

Form

Rounded

Growth Rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Evergreen

Fragrance

None

Flower Color

Yellow, Cream

Flowering Season

Spring

Wildlife Supported

A number of animals are attracted to the fruits
Butterfly host plants

Butterflies & moths hosted ( 1 confirmed

, 3 likely * ) SHOW ALL

Hemileuca electraHemileuca electra

White-lined Sphinx Hyles lineataHyles lineata

American Dried-Plant Moth Idaea bonifataIdaea bonifata

Epinotia kasloanaEpinotia kasloana

Landscaping Information

Sun

Full Sun

Moisture

Extremely Low, Very Low

Summer Irrigation

Never irrigate once established

Nurseries

Carried by 26

Ease of Care

Moderately Easy

Cold Tolerance

Tolerates cold to 17° F

Soil Drainage

Fast

Soil Description

Prefers sandy or decomposed granite soil. Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0

Common uses

Bank Stabilization, Hedges

Companion Plants

In Desert settings, Creosote Bush, Brittlebush, Desert Agave, and Rush Milkweed. In chaparral settings, San Diego Viguiera, California Buckwheat, Salvia spp, and Chaparral Yucca

Maintenance

Very tolerant of pruning or shearing

Propagation?

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones?

7, 8*, 9*, 10, 11, 12*, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Natural Setting

Site Type

This plant is largely found in the Sonoran Desert where is it extremely heat and drought tolerant. However, it is also found in a few coastal locations as a component of a very dry type of chaparral.

Climate

Annual Precipitation: 2.6" - 24.6", Summer Precipitation: 0.17" - 2.27", Coldest Month: 41.5" - 63.5", Hottest Month: 66.0" - 88.9", Humidity: 1.41" - 39.85", Elevation: -227" - 6660"

Alternative Names

Common Names: Goatnut, Jojobe

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Sources include: Wikipedia. All text shown in the "About" section of these pages is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Plant observation data provided by the participants of the California Consortia of Herbaria, Sunset information provided by Jepson Flora Project. Propogation from seed information provided by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden from "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants" by Dara E. Emery. Sources of plant photos include CalPhotos, Wikimedia Commons, and independent plant photographers who have agreed to share their images with Calscape. Other general sources of information include Calflora, CNPS Manual of Vegetation Online, Jepson Flora Project, Las Pilitas, Theodore Payne, Tree of Life, The Xerces Society, and information provided by CNPS volunteer editors, with special thanks to Don Rideout. Climate data used in creation of plant range maps is from PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, using 30 year (1981-2010) annual "normals" at an 800 meter spatial resolution.

Links: Jepson eFlora Taxon Page CalPhotos Wikipedia Calflora

Jojoba

Simmondsia chinensis

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JojobaSimmondsia chinensis

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Jojoba

Simmondsia chinensis