Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica · Evergreen Broadleaf Fruit Tree
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Fruit / Ornamental
Variety / Cultivar
Common Loquat (often specific Mediterranean varieties like 'Algier' or 'Peluche' in Italy)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 8-10; can survive temperatures down to -10°C, though flowers and fruit are damaged at much higher temperatures (roughly -1°C).
About This Tree
A small to medium-sized evergreen tree with a rounded, spread canopy and a short trunk. It features extremely large, stiff, leathery leaves and produces clusters of small, fragrant white flowers followed by yellow-orange pomes.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, 10-25 cm long. Thick and leathery with deeply recessed veins giving a corrugated texture. Dark green and glossy on top with a rusty-tolmentose (fuzzy) underside; margins are sharply serrated.
Bark Characteristics
Grey-brown and relatively smooth on young branches, becoming slightly fissured or scaly with age. Twigs are thick and covered in a woolly brown down.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to South-Central China; widely naturalized in the Mediterranean, specifically Italy and the Amalfi Coast.
Growing Season
Unique cycle: Flowers in late autumn to early winter; fruits ripen in late spring (April-June in Italy); no true dormancy as it is evergreen.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers regular watering during fruit development but is notably drought-tolerant once established.
Mature Size
6-10 meters (20-30 feet) in height and spread; moderate growth rate; can live 30-50 years or more.
Special Characteristics
Highly resistant to heat and moderate salt spray (good for coastal areas); notable for its sweet, tangy edible fruit and exceptionally large, tropical-looking foliage.
Wildlife & Ecology
Flowers provide late-season nectar for bees and pollinators when little else is blooming; the soft fruits are a primary food source for birds and small mammals in late spring.
Notes
Seen on amalfi coast