Eriobotrya japonica

The Loquat (Japanese Medlar or Nispero) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree, native to China and Japan. The foliage is large, lance-shaped, dark-green, leathery, has hairy undersides, and has prominent veins. The blooms are sweetly fragrant, white, have five petals, and appear abundantly on large terminal panicles between November and December. The flowers produce juicy, edible, round to pear-shaped, yellowish orange fruits that ripen in the spring. The Loquat fruit is delicious and can be eaten off the branch or made into jams, jellies, pies, or juice.

Eriobotrya japonica is hardy to zone 7a and likely won’t survive below -17 ˚C. In Canada, Loquat can be grown in containers outdoors in the summer and brought indoors over the winter. When brought indoors for the winter, keep near a sunny window between 10-20 ˚C and reduce watering. Grown best in moist, organically rich, well-drained loamy soil. In warmer climates, Japanese Loquat can be grown as a gorgeous ornamental tree, 10-25 ft tall with a rounded crown.