Eriobotrya japonica

Japanese Loquat Rosaceae

One of the most handsome evergreen fruit trees for the milder garden, with enormous, glossy, deeply veined leaves and handsome terminal panicles of fragrant white flowers. The flowers appear from autumn into winter, when they are an especially valuable source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects on mild days. Despite its Japanese name, the loquat originates principally from south-eastern China, where it has been cultivated for centuries before spreading into Japan and becoming an important fruit tree there.

Introduced to England by Sir Joseph Banks in 1787, it has long been considered marginal for fruiting in Britain, largely because flowering and fruit development coincide with the coldest part of the year. Yet a mature tree in a favourable position can do considerably better. At Edulis in West Berkshire, our mature tree cropped heavily in 2026, following a relatively mild winter and a notably hot spring — a useful demonstration that a warm, sheltered site can produce an excellent British crop. Plant in full sun and shelter from cold winds. The apricot-yellow fruits are juicy and aromatic, with large seeds that are discarded.

• Hardiness: H4, –10 to –5°C
• Height: 4–8 m
• Spread: 4–8 m
• Flowers: October–January
• Fruit: May–June
• Origin: South-eastern China
• Pollination: Self-fertile
• Edible: Juicy yellow-orange fruits; seeds removed before eating