PlantFiles: Loquat, Japanese Plum
Eriobotrya japonica 'Bradenton'

After tasting one of the fruits off a clients tree... I was hooked. Wonderful! I noticed a seedling sprouting under their tree and yes, pulled it up and took it home and potted him up. This was in march. It is now about 9' tall. I would consider these easy to grow as I pulled it up right after a pretty harsh winter for us and he survived.

Loquats self-sow, and we are finding them to be somewhat invasive in our yard in Pensacola, FL. Given the perfect spot (young ones like partial shade and moist, rich soil), they will form a jungle... :-)

These trees grow quite well in Waco, TX. I have two that were planted in the early 1960s in my backyard. They're terribly overgrown right now since we rented the property for a few years, but I'm hoping to get them pruned back (they're planted more as specimen plants than as trees).

Loquat trees grow readily from seed and are found all over S. California. Fruit is juicey and sweet when ripe and is adored by birds.

Grows widely and extremely well in New Orleans, Louisiana, where it is called "Japanese plum". The seeds are totally edible, though very bitter-tasting. I can't imagine anyone actually enjoying the seeds' taste; but, as with the seeds of most fruits in the Roseacea family, they are rich in the anti-cancer substance amygdalin (or "laetrile", which was known as vitamin B-17 before the FDA took away its vitamin status). I used to force myself to eat several (6 or so) in one sitting. (A lot easier than searching for health food stores that sell apricot kernels ... and if you have a tree in your yard, they're free.) The fruits, of course, are delicious. I recently found them canned in syrup at a Chinese supermarket. (They were labled "loquats".)

I have always loved growing loquat trees. I first became acquainted with it when I lived in South Carolina where it survived many winters, even when covered in snow. I have used the fruit in pies and jellies and have also loved the new growth of leaves and beige blooms in table arrangements.

At this time I have a small one growing in a large pot and will be transplanting to the year soon.

The loquat trees grow beautifully in Tallahassee, Florida. Yesterday I picked several dozen of the delicious fruit from my friend's house nearby. Her tree is 30' tall and has gorgeous tropical leaves in addition to plentiful fruit. Birds have helped create several new trees, and I am excited that she is going to give me a couple so I can have my own. :)