Longzao jujube, a vigorous winter ornamental plant.

Longzao jujube, also known as Longxu jujube, Longyou jujube, jujube, is named because of twisted branches and shaped like dragon claws. It is a peculiar ornamental variety in the jujube family. It has beautiful trees, whirling green leaves in summer and beautiful red fruits in autumn, especially the twisted branches after falling leaves in winter, which is unique among all kinds of ornamental flowers and trees. Longzao jujube can be planted in parks, squares, courtyards or residential areas, can also be potted to watch or make bonsai, but also can take its vigorous potential, as an auxiliary material for flower arrangement and flower art.

Longzao jujube is a deciduous shrub of Rhamnaceae, its plant is short, the trunk is gray, the old skin is longitudinally split, the twigs are green, turn yellowish brown after Lignification, and then gradually appear purplish red, with gray needlelike thorns, and are easy to form pimples at the bud knot. The trunk and branches are twisted to grow, and even petioles and leaves are twisted to grow. The fruit is small, cylindrical, slightly curved, the fruit surface is also uneven, twisted, the pericarp is thick, it is red after ripening in late September, but the quality is not good, not suitable for consumption, flowering, fruit setting rate is also poor.

Longzao jujube likes warm, moist and sunny environment, is resistant to cold, is afraid of stagnant water, and is not strict with the soil, but grows better in loose and fertile soil. It should be planted in a place with plenty of sunshine and good ventilation. Potted plants should also be kept in a sunny place for maintenance. If there is not enough light, it will affect the plant development and make the branches grow excessively. The branches of Ziziphus jujuba are naturally bent and twisted, which can be reshaped. After falling leaves in autumn, dense branches, thin branches, disease and insect branches and other branches that affect the shape of the tree are removed, so that their distribution is reasonable and there is a certain gap between the branches. in order to facilitate the ventilation and light transmission within the plant, to achieve the purpose of beautiful tree shape. Pay attention to picking the heart, wiping buds and thinning branches in summer to maintain the beauty of the tree.

The propagation of Ziziphus jujuba is mainly by grafting. The rootstock can be grafted with the seedlings of sour jujube or the split seedlings and root tillers of other jujube varieties. The annual fully developed "first branch" of jujube is selected as scion in spring, and the grafting is carried out by the method of split grafting and cutting grafting, and the bud grafting can also be carried out at flowering stage.