Loquat - Eriobotrya japonica

[@AncientHippie]

Thanks for being so clear on the growing zone effects. Jim is the go to guy for the straight facts.

[@sarahhayhurst9944]

I have never heard of this plant before but I have absolutely fallen in love with it. Thank you so much for introducing it in this post. 👍

[@MsCmsh]

Me too! Tks again Jim!

[@shawnfox7393]

The winter two years ago (Feb 2021) killed all these to the ground in my neighborhood here in Dallas (3 days of 0F temperatures). For people who live in zone 9-10 there are grafted varieties which produce superior fruit. The fruit is actually quite tasty (the grafted varieties) but it doesn't store/transport well so you almost never see them in stores. Extremely common down in Houston and New Orleans. Fairly uncommon here in Dallas as they do tend to get killed every 20 years or so in our area (zone 8a). Still they grow really fast and look great very quickly so I think they are very worthwhile even in 7b-8a area as long as you understand they are likely to be killed by your coldest winters. I just replaced mine this year after it was killed last year and it already looks good and even produced some flowers. They actually do quite well in a part shade area around deciduous trees. The leaves get even bigger and they aren't as full, but still produce a decent amount of flowers and look even more tropical due to the massive leaf size.

[@basanteena]

Jim, would love for you to discuss pomegranate bush/tree varieties in the south and their care. Thank you!

[@Ash_9]

Love those! Out here in zone 9b California they're massive trees, 30ft tall and wide.

[@Anna-ww4pv]

You have introduced me to plants I would have never considered. Thank you.

[@jimblair7724]

ill be looking for a couple here in east TENNESSEE! I thank you and it looks great

[@CBBC435]

The "tip pruning" is such a good suggestion! I never thought about that but it's the perfect solution for my loquat tree. I wish I knew what to do about the suckers at the base of the tree.

[@josephpittman7600]

Cut those suckers off!

[@lwyatt5431]

I lost mine during the Texas ice storm. I miss it!

[@jennifernash4638]

Beautiful! I'll need to add this to my list of plants to look for.

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thank you Jim, beautiful tree/shrub. Plant envy. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄❄️💚🙃

[@tracytracyWM]

My grandmother had huge loquat trees. I remember picking them off as a kid and daring my brother to eat the sour center.

[@gardeneroflight]

The fruit is delicious! Be sure and save some to put in a dehydrator ... just cut off the bus end, cut in half, discard those huge seeds and dry . They're like fruit candies! Yum!

[@inspiredtosoar3526]

We ate this fruit growing up in Florida from a neighbour’s tree happy memory

[@peteraltavista7508]

Helpful! Love the look of that tree! My 3 year old potted trees have become too leggy, but I have seedlings that I will tip prune to prevent that. The smell of the blossoms is intoxicating. With some winter protection, I have gotten two trees to produce good tasting fruit. They took a real hit this year though with the colder winter weather.

[@passepartoot]

Please keep posting tree videos, Jim. I have a multi-trunk loquat here in Tidewater Virginia.. Last year fruit formed on the branches, but that late cold snap in March killed all of them. The mature trees see nearby do manage to produce fruit most years.

[@gracepeterson7483]

One of my favorites too, Jim. In fact a few weeks ago I tip pruned mine to make it bushier like the one you featured. Thanks for sharing.

[@CBBC435]

As far as fertilizer goes, I learned that loquats are in the rose bush family. On a hunch I fertilized my loquat at the start of the season with organic granular rose bush fertilizer. Wow what a difference. The leaves are now like 15" long and it seems more resistant to the damage from pests like aphids. I mean after I fertilize it the new growth leaves immediately lift and practically glow a brighter green! I live in zone 8a and I find that my loquats like a lot of water. It's very hot here. If I don't water at least 2 times a week the leaves turn a bit brittle, dark, and puckered between the veins of the leaves. And of course keeping the roots cool, as you suggest, does make a big difference so I mulch with shredded pine bark. I think my loquats prefer a slightly acidic soil (again, taking my cues from their being in the rose bush family because I could find very little online about the optimal conditions for loquats). Also, I think my conditions here are a bit hard on the loquats and so now I have found the secrets to keeping them lush looking.

[@bvhia]

Loquat whisperer

[@chriscoogan2736]

Many on the Louisiana Gardeners page recommended this tree. They referred to it as a Japanese plum. Never tasted it. Others recommended a Camphor tree.

[@sassafras7870]

Great information! Thank you.

[@miryana7873]

Love this tree! I have one in metro atlanta, zone7b. Its full of flower buds right now but the cold weather is coming so I don't have much hope when it comes to seeing my tree in full bloom. jim, thank you for this video!

[@CammedFox]

Did your Loquat survive? I'm in metro ATL, zone 8a and thinking of one

[@Theisaiahtibbs]

Loquat is incredible. Tough as nails here on the death star in Austin TX. We are zone 8B and almost always get fruit. Very drought tolerant after the first year or so.

[@hamigakisan7094]

Trying my hand at using these as a screening plant in midlands SC, 8a. Clemson University has several large specimens. I got several cuttings from someone on craigslist last summer. I've only got one in the ground, the others still in pots. They are trying depsite my neglect and my dogs munching on them (and my blueberries...)! I will say the ones that got chewed on developed new buds in no time.

[@geriannroth449]

I find the intense heat from full sun burns the leave tips

[@heathers1677]

We had one and loved it. In 8b it never formed fruit for us in the 10 years we had it.

[@馬伕]

These trees are vigorous, and invasive. Once you have one, you will get dozens every year.

[@CAngel-x9u]

Where do you buy a grafted loquat tree

[@edibletropicaltrees]

I have a Big Jim Loquat Tree. The fruit is around the size of a jumbo egg.

[@hshanka]

Jim, where do you recommend we buy this plant from in Raleigh?

[@chickenfarm09]

Do they do well indoors? I'm in zone 6a so I don't know what to do

[@kso808]

My folks had one behind their beach house in SE NC, but it didn’t survive.

[@terrivance8750]

Jim, Can Loquat be grown & flower in 7A or will that zone kill it? Thank you. 😊

[@Ash_9]

They're wood&root hardy to about 5-10F which is zone 7b/8a. Zone 7a would be a stretch but I'm sure if it was in a protected spot you could probably swing it. They would never fruit unless winter was above 20F.

[@localgardenqueens4881]

I lived in nyc 7b and used to pass a house with a young tree in ground. The tree was only 4 ft tall and did not do well. We had a cold stretch of days in the 20’s and single digit to teens at night… The plant too a big hit. I don’t remember if it survived but it dropped all the leaves.

[@DovidM]

Some varieties are not self pollinating. Varieties like Advance and Champagne are examples.

[@cristinastassi4104]

Why does my local tree not make any fruits?

[@keresha1222]

Is the fruit sweet or tart?

[@Rabbit-tiger]

It’s sour-sweet and juicy, not crispy. Close to soft ripened peach texture. It’s really tasty when it’s ripen.

[@klaviary]

Fruiting in Zone 7b just south of Raleigh. Add Christmas lights (not LED) and they will stay nice and warm. 😊

[@yingsedola1653]

I'm in south Raleigh too! Hi neighbor :) I just planted my first Loquat in ground, about 4 ft tall. I bought the Christmas lights and tree jacket. do you thing mine will survive this winter being so young? THX!

[@bvhia]

Why don't you let it grow multiple trunks?

[@brianandtamiolson2330]

Hat is the difference between a Loquat and a Kumquat?

[@joycelynbell1434]

I was thinking that very question 🤔

[@SocialDownclimber]

Cumquats are citrus, loquats aren't. Cumquats are like a tiny sour mandarin, loquats are like a fat sour cherry.

[@joycelynbell1434]

@@SocialDownclimber oooooh 🤔...thanks for explaining this 🤭🤭

[@cristinastassi4104]

Why does my loquat tree not make any fruit?

[@dorindajenkins7825]

🙋

[@judymckerrow6720]

Do southern gardeners have plant envy? 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄❄️💚🙃

[@cookiecat3553]

I have biggest this tree at my home

[@ericarona8599]

0:01 Varieties?

[@ericarona8599]

Still waiting for answer...

[@mrIknowwhatyoudid]

糖水琵琶😋

[@davidwelty9763]

Sour loquats? You have the wrong variety.