1 / 9

Simmondsia chinensis

jojoba

Simmondsiaceae

Sonoran Desert (southwestern North America)

Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Simmondsia chinensis is a dioecious evergreen shrub of the Sonoran Desert, growing 3-8 feet (0.9-2.4 m) tall and 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) wide, occasionally reaching 10 feet (3 m) on deep soils. The thick, leathery grey-green leaves are oval, 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) long, and held upright to reduce water loss and sun exposure. Male and female flowers occur on separate plants; the small petalless flowers are pale yellow-green and wind-pollinated, appearing in late winter and spring. Female plants develop ovoid capsules holding one to three dark brown seeds about 0.5-0.75 inch (1.2-2 cm) long. The seeds contain roughly 50 percent liquid wax, harvested commercially as jojoba oil. Raw seeds contain simmondsin and are toxic if eaten. Native to the deserts of Arizona, southern California, and northwestern Mexico, it withstands intense heat, drought, and saline soils, and is hardy in USDA zones 8-11. Plants are slow-growing and long-lived, with individuals persisting for over a century. Deep taproots reach soil moisture far below the surface. The shrub is damaged by hard frost below about 22F (-6C) and tolerates poor, sandy or rocky ground but fails in heavy, wet soils. Establishment from seed is slow, and only female plants bear the wax-rich seed.

Native Range

Native to the Sonoran Desert of northwestern Mexico (Baja California and Sonora) and the adjacent southwestern United States in Arizona and southern California. It grows on dry slopes, washes, and gravelly flats below 5,000 feet (1,500 m).

Suggested Uses

Used in desert and xeriscape gardens, as a drought-tolerant hedge or screen, and for erosion control on dry slopes, spaced 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) apart. Grown commercially in arid regions for jojoba oil.

How to Identify

Identified by stiff, upright grey-green oval leaves 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) long and leathery in texture, held in opposite pairs. Plants are either male, bearing clustered yellow-green flowers, or female, bearing solitary flowers followed by acorn-like brown seed capsules. The dense, rounded shrub branches from the base.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 8'

Width/Spread4' - 6'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Winter Spring

Small petalless flowers open from late winter into spring, mainly February to April, timed to seasonal rains. Wind carries pollen from male to female plants. Female plants ripen seed capsules through early summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 8-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun in sandy, gravelly, or rocky free-draining soil. Water sparingly; established plants survive on rainfall in desert climates and rot if overwatered. The shrub tolerates heat above 115F (46C), drought, wind, and saline or alkaline soils. It grows slowly, adding only a few inches a year, and needs no feeding. Hardiness extends to USDA zone 8, with frost damage below about 22F (-6C). Both male and female plants are needed for seed production.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed beyond removing dead or frost-damaged wood in spring. The shrub tolerates shearing and can be shaped into an informal hedge. Cutting back leggy stems encourages denser basal growth.

Pruning Schedule

early spring