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The Loquat

by Gene Joyner, Extension Agent I
IFAS Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service

The loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, is a medium-size evergreen tree native to China which is quite well adapted for most of Florida and even along the Gulf states. These trees reach heights of about 25 to 30 feet with an equal spread, and out in the open have a beautiful umbrella-shaped habit of growth.

The heavy-textured dark green leaves are up to twelve inches long, and have a lighter or whitish underside with very prominent toothed margins. Flowers are produced in fragrant terminal clusters from September onward through the winter months, but fruit normally does not form until cooler weather arrives, sometimes as late as December. Fruits ripen usually from late February through April, depending on the section of the state and temperatures.

Fruits usually are oblong to round, golden yellow, anywhere from one and a half inches to as long as two inches long, with one or more large shiny brown seeds. The fruits are usually eaten fresh, but they also make excellent jams, jellies, pies, ice creams and other useful desserts.

Trees often produce very heavy crops of fruit, and it is highly prized by most people as a dooryard fruit. Trees do best in sun. Ones grown in the shade of larger plants often produce small amounts of fruit. Salt tolerance of loquats is very good, and they can be used close to coastal areas without any fear of injury from salt spray.

Trees should be fertilized two to three times a year with a fruit tree-type fertilizer to help promote good growth and heavier fruit. Small trees can be fertilized every two months to help speed growth.

Trees are easily propagated by seeds; however, there are many named varieties and these are best propagated by grafting or air-layering. Many nurseries carry loquats, but unfortunately most have seedlings only and do not bother to graft them. Seedlings can sometimes have widely variable fruit so far as to size and quality. Some of the varieties of good grafted types that are available from nurseries include 'Premier', 'Oliver', 'Wolf', 'Gold Nugget" 'Thales' and 'Hardee'.

Loquat trees normally are tolerant of most low temperatures, but in extreme north Florida hard freezes can kill flowers and small developing fruit. The fruit is sometimes attacked by the fruit fly larvae and in some years, high percentages of the crop may be lost unless the fruit are bagged or covered. Also, a serious disease called fire blight attacks loquats in some regions of the state. Generally with fire blight, the best control is to prune out diseased areas and then spray with copper to help reduce the chance of reinfection.

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