Jojoba with the botanical name Simmondsia chinensis  and also known as goat nut  deer nut  pignut  wild hazel  quinine nut  coffeeberry  and gray box bush  is native to Southwestern North America. Simmondsia chinensis is the sole species of the family Simmondsiaceae.This is a woody  evergreen shrub  averaging 2 to 5 feet tall and wide  sometimes to 10 feet with leathery  grayish-green leaves. The pale green female flowers  are borne singly at each leaf node. The yellowish-green male flowers are borne in clusters. Plants bloom in winter and female plants ripen their acorn-shaped and -sized seeds in summer.Jojoba prefers light  coarsely textured soils. Good drainage and water penetration is necessary. It tolerates salinity and poor-nutrient soils. High temperatures are tolerated by jojoba  but frost can damage or kill plants. The foliage provides year-round browse for many animals  especially deer  javelina  bighorn sheep  and livestock. Nuts are eaten by many animals  including squirrels and other rodents  rabbits and larger birds.Jojoba is grown commercially to produce jojoba oil  a liquid wax ester extracted from its seed.