Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi
Parry's jujube, Parry's Jujube
Family: Rhamnaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi (Parry's jujube) is a native California shrub in the Rhamnaceae family.
Parry's jujube is a California native shrub found in southern California coastal areas, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, western Mojave Desert, and western edge of Sonoran Desert in chaparral habitats at elevations of 15 to 1,220 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces small white flowers on compact clusters with purple-green hypanthiums. Growing up to 4 meters tall with stiff, spreading branches tipped with thorns, the shrub has distinctive pale green-yellow to purplish twigs. Its leaves are deciduous and elliptic to obovate, approximately 10 to 25 millimeters long, with a dull olive-green color and nearly entire margins. The fruit is a dry, brown structure 10 to 25 millimeters long with a distinctive beak-like tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differentiators are twig smoothness, leaf size/texture, and fruit characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Chaparral
Elevation: 15-1220 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Orange
Outside California: Mexico
Bloom period
Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi blooms Feb-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Pseudoziziphus: Ziziphus has thick disk obscuring ovary; Pseudoziziphus has thin disk showing ovary clearly.; vs Condaliopsis: Ziziphus flowers have thick swollen disk center; Condaliopsis has thin or no disk.; vs Ulmus: Ziziphus has woody zigzag branches; Ulmus has straight branches with serrated leaves.; vs Ceanothus: Ziziphus has thick disk in flower center; Ceanothus has thin disk and showy petals.; vs Colubrina: Ziziphus has thick disk nearly hiding ovary; Colubrina has thin disk with visible ovary.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi native to California?
Yes. Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi bloom?
Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi grow?
Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Orange, at elevations of 15-1220 m.
What plant family does Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi belong to?
Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi is in the Rhamnaceae family, genus Pseudoziziphus.
What habitat does Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi grow in?
Pseudoziziphus parryi var. parryi grows in Uncommon. Chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.