Family: ROSACEAE
Other common names are Japanese loquat and Japanese medlar. Originally from central China, the loquat is a small, evergreen tree which can reach 6 - 9 m in height, although under less favourable conditions it will often be smaller than this (about 3 m). Although the tree itself is fairly frost hardy (to - 10oC), it does not fruit well in cold climates. Winter temperatures below - 5°C will prevent it bearing fruit, as the flowers are borne at a cold time of year, at the begin-ning of winter. It will grow in a variety of soils, but does best in a light, deep, loamy soil, which is kept moist. It does not like too much lime in the soil. It is moderately drought and wind tolerant, and can be used as a hedge or windbreak. It is also tolerant of salt spray. An excellent shade tree. Many fine cultivars are now available.
The fruit are oval in shape (5-6 cm), and yellow or orange in colour, with a sweetly perfumed, softly acid flesh. There is usually one large seed or sometimes two in each fruit. The fruits mature in spring and early summer. They are best eaten fresh, but can also be made into jams and wine. They are a refreshing, easily digested fruit, though not highly nutritious.
Nutritional composition of the loquat fruit per 100 grams of edible portion is: Water - 86.5%, Energy - 48 calories, Carbohydrate - 12.4 g, Fat - 0.2 g, Protein - 0.4 g, Ash - 0.5 g, Calcium -20 mg, Potassium - 348 mg, Iron - 0.4 mg, Phosphorous - 36 mg, Vitamin A - 670 I.U., Ascorbic acid - 1 mg.
Thinning the fruit will result in a greater fruit size. The tree also has some potential as animal forage.
Loquats can be grown from seed and by grafting or cuttings. They will sometimes self sow around the tree. Usually, however, the trees are grafted or budded, the rootstock often being a quince, as this both dwarfs the plant and hastens an early fruiting. Grafted trees will fruit at about 3 years old. They should be planted at a minimum spacing of 4 m. Cross pollination is an advantage.