Jojoba
Simmondsia chinensis

Family: Simmondsiaceae

What it is like

An evergreen thorny shrub. It grows 2.4 m high and spreads 1.8 m wide. It often has several stems. The young stems are hairy. The leaves are small and leathery. They are oblong and grey-green. The male and female flowers are on separate plants. The male flowers are cup shaped and yellow. They occur in clusters. The female flowers are bell shaped and greenish. They are in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a capsule with one seed. The seed or nut is about the size of an acorn. The seed is 12-19 mm long. The kernel is triangle shaped.

There is only one Simmondsia species. There is only one genus in the Simmondsiaceae family.

Where it is found

It grows in desert regions. It needs a hot climate and well-drained dry soil. It needs full sun. It is very drought tolerant. It can tolerate frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 100-500 mm. It can grow in alkaline soils. It can grow in arid places. It grows in deserts. It grows in places with high heat and low moisture. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Central America, Costa Rica, East Africa, Egypt, Europe, Ghana, Haiti, Indochina, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Mediterranean, Mexico (country/location of origin), Middle East, North Africa, North America, Paraguay, Peru, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, USA, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

A coffee like drink is made from the ground seeds. The seeds are also eaten raw, parched or roasted. They are served with butter and salt. The roasted ground nuts are also mixed with the yolk or a hard boiled egg and boiled with water, sugar and a vanilla bean to make a chocolate like drink. The oil from the seed is used as salad oil and cooking oil.

Edible parts

Seeds, seeds - coffee

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Goat-nut, Pignut

Synonyms

Buxus chinensis Link; Simmondsia californica Nutt.;