Loquat

Profile

Family

Rosaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

8 m

Spread

6 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

60 years

First yield

after 5 years

Hardiness

zone 8–12

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

dry – very moist

pH

5 – 8

Synonyms

Japanische Wollmispel, Nespoli, Loquat

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruits can be consumed raw, cooked, or canned, offering a slightly sour, sweet, and aromatic taste. They are versatile ingredients for pies, sauces, and jellies. Medlar pie made from underripe fruits resembles cherry pie. Harvested in winter and early spring, the fruits are up to 4 cm in diameter. Nutritional information is provided. Seeds, when cooked, have a pleasant taste and can serve as a coffee alternative when roasted. However, caution is advised if the seeds have a bitter flavor.

Other uses: Wood is a tough, dense material with a fine texture commonly utilized for making rulers and various other purposes.

Growing

Thrives in fertile, well-drained soil under full sun or light shade, tolerating dry conditions but not overly calcareous soils. Prefers coastal proximity, tolerates maritime exposure but not cold winds. Can flourish in mild climates in an open area, yet generally needs protection from a wall. Hardy to at least -5°C, enduring temperatures between -12 and -17°C with some damage. Typically flowers and fruits post a long, hot summer. Challenges arise in fruit production as the plant blooms in winter, hindering fruit ripening during cold winters. Fruit quality deteriorates in cold regions due to severe frosts. Often grown for its edible fruit in warm temperate areas, with over 800 cultivars in Japan. 'Advance' is a compact tree bearing very juicy fruit, with flowers emitting a strong oriental fragrance.

Propagation

Seeds should be planted right after they mature in spring, preferably in a cold frame. Prior to planting, it is recommended to store the seeds for a day and then sow them in a warm greenhouse towards the end of winter. Typically, germination takes place within 1-4 months at a temperature of 20°C. Once the seedlings reach a suitable size, transfer them into separate pots and keep them in the greenhouse for at least the initial winter. By late spring or early summer, after the final frosts have passed, relocate the plants to their permanent position. For propagation, take cuttings from partially mature shoots with a heel in a frame during July/August, or from soft wood in a frame during spring. Another method is air layering.

Notable

Special features: tolerates dry soils and coastal climates, does not like lime or cold wind/too much nitrogen/fertilizer; at -3°C, mature flowers die in winter!, then no fruit; in commercial cultivation, only 3-4m tall grafted varieties are planted with 500 trees per hectare; in tropical climates, the tree can flower and bear fruit 2-3 times a year.

Origin & habitat

E. Asia - China, Japan.

Mixed forests with shade, at elevations of 1000–1800 meters in East Asia, are also present in the Himalayas, reaching heights of up to 3000 meters, predominantly on north-facing slopes and in shaded regions.

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