Autumn Beauty

Jujube

Size

Large (~2 in. long)

Shape

Elongated; dark chocolate brown skin

Flavor

Crisp and very sweet, apple-like flavor

Texture

Crisp

Ripening window

Late summer to fall (October, depending on summer heat); ripens earlier than other large-fruited varieties

Best uses

Fresh eating, drying

Pollination

Self-fertile, but produces more abundantly with another jujube variety planted nearby

Tree size

Up to 18 ft; late to leaf out in spring

Notes

Also known as 'Qiyuexian' ("July fresh") and marketed by some nurseries as AmeriZao Alcalde #1; per one nursery, registered scientific name 'Qi Yue Xian'. Originated at Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China, released 2003. Zone 6 hardy (more productive in zones 8+, a good sign for Oak Point); chill requirement 400 hours. Attractive, disease-resistant, suitable for confined spaces; tolerant of sea spray/salt; remove rootstock suckers early. Frequently marketed by other nurseries as the same cultivar as "Xian Beauty" (sometimes sold as "Xian Beauty (Autumn Beauty)"), but recorded here as a separate tree per your inventory - their documented origin names differ ('Qi Yue Xian' vs. 'Zhang Hua Dong Zao'), so there may be genuine cultivar variation between what different nurseries ship under each name.