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Jojoba
Simmondsia chinensis
  
About Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) 32 Nurseries Carry This Plant 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
Plant Type
Shrub

Size
Size
3 - 7 ft tall
4 - 7 ft wide

Form
Form
Rounded

Growth Rate
Growth Rate
Moderate

Dormancy
Dormancy
Evergreen

Fragrance
Fragrance
None

Flower Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Cream

Flowering Season
Flowering Season
Spring

Wildlife Supported
 
A number of animals are attracted to the fruits

 
Butterflies & moths hosted ( 1 confirmed , 2 likely * ) SHOW ALL

Landscaping Information
Sun
Sun
Full Sun

Moisture
Moisture
Extremely Low, Very Low

Summer Irrigation
Summer Irrigation
Never irrigate once established

Nurseries
Nurseries

Ease of Care
Ease of Care
Moderately Easy

Cold Tolerance
Cold Tolerance
Tolerates cold to 17° F

Soil Drainage
Soil Drainage
Fast

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

Common uses
Common uses
Bank Stabilization, Hedges

Companion Plants
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
Maintenance
Very tolerant of pruning or shearing

Propagation
Propagation?
For propagating by seed: No treatment.

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

Natural Setting
Site Type
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
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


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


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