What's eating my li jujube?

Li Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba 'Li') is one of the most pest-resistant fruiting trees available to gardeners. Aphids and spider mites occasionally colonize young growth, and scale insects can build up on branches over time. Birds consume ripe fruit. In parts of Asia the ber fruit fly is destructive, but this is rarely a problem in US or UK gardens.

Soft colonies on new shoot tips; leaves curl and distort; sticky honeydew promotes sooty mold; growth slows during heavy spring infestations. Blast off with a firm water jet; apply insecticidal soap or dilute neem oil; encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps as natural predators.

Fine webbing on leaf undersides; stippled, bronzed leaves; premature leaf drop in hot, dry spells; fruit quality can be reduced. Increase humidity by spraying foliage with water; apply neem oil or horticultural soap; introduce predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) as a biological control.

Waxy or armored bumps on bark and stems; sap drain causes slow dieback and honeydew-based sooty mold on leaves below. Apply dormant oil in late winter before bud break; scrape off isolated colonies; prune and destroy heavily infested branches.