Jojoba is a shrub native to the Sonoran Desert. It has very small flowers that grow on separate plants. The male plants produce small clustered flowers, the female plants produce individual flowers that, if pollinated with the help of the wind, will produce fruit.
It is a shrub that can grow up to 4 meters high, but it can also remain short if pruned. It does not require irrigation (only to establish them), and you can plant it in a sunny or shaded space, wherever you put it, will make it work. It is great for giving shelter to birds and its leaves and seeds serve as food for different animals such as rabbits, squirrels, javelinas, deer and even cows.
Surely you have already heard about the oil that is extracted from the jojoba seed, which is used in the cosmetics industry, such as body creams, makeup and even in hair products such as shampoos and conditioners. Well, the discovery of jojoba oil and its commercialization literally saved the whales from extinction!
For many years, whales were hunted for their oil (actually wax), which served as fuel for lamps and wax for candles. In the 1940's, whaling began to be regulated, and it was not until 1971 someone discovered that jojoba seed oil (which is not oil either, it is wax but we all call it oil) could replace whale oil, and could be a profitable business, which caused a boom in jojoba plantations and more experimentation to find more uses for it.
Jojoba brings many benefits in urban gardens, for example here in our garden in Tucson, we use it as a barrier between our house and our neighbors' house, so we don't see them every day :). It also helps reduce noise, which is why we have several jojobas in the middle of ours and our neighbors' garages.
Aesthetically speaking, it does great near fences or boring walls, since its grayish-green color gives it a "background" effect that, combined with other plants with more vibrant colors, produces an interesting contrast. Jojobas look good around tall trees, or mixed with agaves. They are also used at the edge of paths, which requires pruning from time to time, personally I don't like the idea of over-pruning bushes, but its up to you and your needs! Anyhow, this plant can withstand anything!!
Type: Perennial shrub, evergreen, can live up to 100 years!
Size: From 3ft to 13ft tall.
Water use: Very little, it tolerates drought, but if you are going to plant one in your garden it is good to give it a deep watering once a week for the first six months to help it establish itself.
Flower season: December to July.
Flowers: Tiny green-yellow.
Food for: Bees love pollen from the flowers of male plants; birds, rabbits, javelinas, deer and squirrels eat the seeds and leaves.
Where to plant: Full sun, part shade, shade.
Distribution: Southern California, Southern Arizona, Baja California, Baja California Sur and Sonora, Mexico.
Ancestral use: Native Americans extracted the oil from jojoba seeds and used it to heal skin wounds. The seeds are edible but is not the best flavor, it’s best to leave it to wildlife!
Landscape design: Combined with other shrubs such as creosote bush, it creates a natural fence with interesting textures. It provides great contrast with agaves, and is great for creating a micro-climate if you plant it around trees like mesquites, you will get shade and fresh wind in the summer. It is the perfect shrub to create a feeling of privacy, or if you don’t like your neighbors that much, plant a bunch of jojobas, it will look way better than a concrete wall.
Sources:
Book:
- Baja California Plant Field Guide 3rd Edition, Norman C. Roberts and J. Rebman.
Web:
-https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/jojoba#:~:text=Unlike%20vegetable%20oils%20and%20animal,et%20al.%2C%202006).
-- https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/jojoba.html
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