Perhaps the loquat is one of the most overlooked trees for
home landscapes. It rarely makes shade tree lists and is seldom found with the fruiting
trees - but it’s a little bit of both.
Loquats have broad dark green leaves
resembling the foliage of a magnolia. They grow to about 25 feet tall producing good shade
along walkways or near small patios. Around October the trees begin flowering, opening
clusters of faintly fragrant yellow blossoms, that continues through January.
A bonus is the yellow to orange colored fruits that mature throughout
February and March. Good varieties have a sweet, slightly acid taste that can be consumed
fresh or preserved.
Most trees are started from seed, but where possible plant one of
the grafted varieties including Oliver, Tanaka or Wolf. Then follow these steps to grow a
fruiting tree for the landscape.
Choose a full sun well-drained location away from tall buildings.
Keep new trees moist; water fruiting trees once a week.
Feed lightly in February, June and October.
Maintain a straight single trunk until the tree is 6 to 8 feet high.
Remove a third of the fruits in each cluster to grow plump loquats.
Prune out dead or dying branches to control fire blight, a disease.
