Common Name: Jojoba

General Information

Simmondsia chinensis is a multi-stemmed, profusely-branching, evergreen shrub, occasionally more tree-like, especially in more humid areas; it usually grows up to 2.5 metres tall but specimens up to 6 metres have been recorded[].
The oil obtained from Jojoba is very similar in composition to sperm-whale oil and, since that product is no longer used in most countries, there is an excellent potential market for Jojoba. The plant is grown commercially as an oil crop in arid regions of the tropics and subtropics, and the oil is traded internationally. The plant also has a range of traditional uses, as a food and medicine, and is commonly harvested from the wild for local use. Jojoba is grown in parks and gardens as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southwestern N. America - California, Arizona, northwest Mexico (Baja Norte, Baja Sur, Sonora)

Habitat

Desert scrub, coastal sage scrub, alluvial fans, arroyo margins, rocky, gravelly, or sandy slopes; at elevations up to 1,500 metres[]. Well drained desert soils - sandy alluviums, coarse gravel and clay mixes and loams[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of arid regions in the subtropics, it can also be cultivated in arid tropical areas at elevations up to 1,500 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 21 - 36°c, but can tolerate 10 - 50°c with an absolute high of 55°c[, ]. Plants require at least one month of lower temperatures, around 15 - 20°c, in order to break dormancy of flower buds - at constantly high temperatures jojoba never flowers[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -10°c, but young plants are very susceptible to frost damage[, ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 250 - 800mm, but tolerates 100 - 2,000mm[].
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained light to medium soil[]. Tolerates saline soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8.2[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
Simmondsia is able to withstand extreme daily temperature fluctuations. Its thick, leathery leaves are usually held erect, maximizing interception of solar radiation during the cooler part of the day and minimizing it during the heat of midday[].
Plants are slow-growing[].
In cultivation, male plants may start flowering 2 years after planting and female ones up to 1 year later. Flowering occurs on new growth only and is initiated by low temperatures. Cultivars with different chilling requirements have been selected[].
The plant comes into full bearing in 7 - 8 years, and can bear fruit for 100 - 200 years[].
Flower buds may remain dormant until sufficient moisture is available[]. Prolonged drought may lead to abortion of flower buds and young fruits[].
Under favourable conditions, plants can live for longer than 100 years[]. In more difficult conditions they can survive as small stunted shrubs[].
Plans have a long tap root that is able to penetrate as deep as 25 metres into the soil in search of moisture[]. Thus established plants are very drought tolerant[].
Yields of up to 4.5 tonnes of wax per hectare are believed possible, though in practice 3.5 tonnes is the maximum achieved[].
The plant is dioecious (female and male flowers are found on separate bushes). One male plant for every 5 or so females is required for optimum seed production.

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked. Often parched and then eaten[]. It is also been made into a well-flavoured drink similar to coffee[].

Medicinal

The wax obtained from the seed is applied to the skin in order to alleviate the effects of psoriasis, sores, wounds and other skin afflictions[].
It has been used traditionally as a medicine for cancer, kidney disorders, colds, dysuria, obesity, parturition, aching eyes and warts, and to treat baldness[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Planted in arid areas as a means of preventing soil erosion[].
The plant makes an attractive clipped hedge[].

Other Uses

A liquid wax is obtained from the seed[]. After ripening and harvesting in the summer, the seeds are crushed and give a liquid wax yield of about 50% by weight[]. This wax, often referred to as jojobe oil, is a unique unsaturated oil composed of non-glyceride esters consisting almost entirely of straight-chain acids and alcohols[]. These compounds are difficult to synthesise commercially and the only other source is the sperm whale[]. The waxes are indigestible, odourless and clear, the processes of isomerisation, hydrogenation and sulphur-chloride treatments produce a range of products from thick creams to crystalline waxes to oils and rubbers[]. Jojoba wax, and especially its sulphur-containing derivatives, are stable at high temperatures, which make them suitable as components of industrial oils, as additives in high pressure and high-temperature lubricants for transformers and gear systems, and as cutting and drawing oils in metal working. The oil or derivatives have potential as a motor fuel. Jojoba methyl-ester fuel runs more quietly than conventional diesel fuel and releases no sulphur. The liquid wax can be converted to a hard wax used, for example, in manufacturing candles. Other applications have been found in the manufacture of linoleum and printing inks[].
The composition of jojoba wax enables it to withstand high temperatures of up to 300°c since it has a flash point
of 295°c, a fire point of 338°c, and a low volatility. Jojoba wax has properties similar to the oil secreted by human skin and can be used to lubricate skin and hair for protection against e.g. ultraviolet radiation. The wax is relatively nontoxic, biodegradable and resistant to rancidity[].

Various pats of the plant, especially the oil but also the seed, leaves etc, are used in commercial cosmetic preparations as abrasives, emollients, hair conditioners, humectants, skin conditioners and protectors[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a sunny position in situ or in a nursery seedbed, preferably in slightly alkaline sand or in vermiculite at temperatures of 27 - 38°c[]. After germination, the plant forms a deeply penetrating taproot (which can reach 10 metres or more in mature plants), which can be 60cm long before the emergence of the shoot[].
The seed stores fairly well - germination is good even after 6 months, but viability is reduced to less than 40% after 10 years of seed storage at ambient conditions[].
Cuttings. Propagation by softwood cuttings from selected shrubs that have been treated with IBA can be used. The cuttings are best planted in a nursery under mist. Cuttings take 25 - 40 days to strike root. Fivenode cuttings, taken from actively growing plants, give plants with a strongly growing root system[].