Jojoba, << hoh HOH buh, >> is an evergreen shrub that grows wild in desert regions of northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Jojobas produce seeds, also called beans or nuts, that contain an oil. Jojoba oil is similar to the oil obtained from sperm whales. In 1971, the United States government banned whaling and the import of whale products. As a result of the ban, jojoba oil has become a valuable substitute for sperm whale oil in lubricants, cosmetics, and many industrial chemicals. Jojobas began to be grown on plantations in the late 1970’s.
Jojobas grow from 3 to 8 feet (0.91 to 2.4 meters) tall in the wild. Each female jojoba produces up to about 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) of seeds annually
