Southeastern China is the Loquat’s original home, then later transplanted into Japan and became adapted quite readily over 1,000 years ago. It has since traveled to India and many other southern Asia locations. Its journeys make it a very hardy and easy to care for landscape specimen. However, too much humidity and cool temperatures hinder its fruiting capacity. Alternatively, the Loquat does well in a large tub that can be moved to protect it.
Their leaves are a showcase feature before their harvest season—featuring a glossy appearance and measured at 5-12 inches long and 3 to inches wide. The fruit is yellow and round—sometimes pear-shaped–and very attractively clustered. This handsome tree is well placed by a door to harvest the benefit of the small, white, sweetly fragrant flowers in the fall or early winter. They will produce better quality fruit if you give them regular, deep irrigation, however they don’t tolerate standing water, so be sure they’re above ground level. An orchard of them would be lovely, but given less space, they contribute a glamorous specimen for your landscaping design.
