The loquat, an ancient fruit grown in Japan for the past 1,000 years, is probably native to the cooler hill regions of China. ... or to the states of California, Hawaii and Alaska. Just Fruits Loquat Seedling Tree – Tastes Like Apricots! Jim Neitzel was a visionary fruit grower and a founding board member of the California Rare Fruit Growers Organization. Plant in the full sun when located near the coast or in areas with mild summers. This tree should be grown in a full sun to part shade environment, and does best in zones 8-10. Loquat trees. The following varieties are recommended by Sunset: ‘Champagne’ (best … Some varieties that came highly recommended were Avri, Vista White, Macbeth, Sugar Crisp and Argelino. A lot of Our requests come from people who ate loquat fruit when they were growing up. Who’s Big Jim? It was common as a small-fruited ornamental in California in the 1870’s, and the improved variety, Giant, was being sold there by 1887. This is one of the tastiest and fleshiest Loquat varieties you will find. They do well in a wide variety of soils and climates but are not grown commercially in California. It is a taste they do not forget and want to experience that taste again and again. Loquat is grown commercially for fruit production in California and the lower regions of the Gulf States, especially Florida. Click here to find our Full Loquat Trees Planting and Growing Guide. Loquat trees produce small yellow fruits that are sweet and juicy with seeds in the center. Loquat fruit are one of the first fruits to ripen each year and normally come available in California during May and June. And lucky for you, the Big Jim Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim') is the best of the best. I still haven’t gotten a specific identification on our own loquat, which is an orange-fleshed variety and very tasty. The trees can tolerate temperatures as low as 10 F. (-12 C.) without serious damage, but temperatures below 27 F (-3 C.) kill the flowers and fruit. Of these 8 varieties, there are two main types: Chinese and Japanese. You can find many varieties listed in great detail on the California Rare Fruit Growers site. The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) actually originated in southeastern China, an early domesticated fruit once reserved for Chinese royalty.It spread to Japan around AD 700 and was cultivated intensely. The fruit is eaten raw or processed into jellies, jams, preserves, and pies. The Japanese name biwa was derived from its Mandarin name, pi-pa.It’s thought that Chinese immigrants brought loquat to California, and for a while it was popular among backyard … This means that much of California is perfect for growing these tangy-sweet small fruits, as well as much of the south or southeastern part of the United States. https://www.louiesnursery.com/plants/tropical-fruit-trees/loquat-trees Growing Guide. For many years, loquats have been grown as ornamentals in California, especiallly along the southern coastal plains. Let’s go over the perfect conditions for growing your loquat tree! I haven't tasted any so I am just passing on others opinions here. ... Our varieties of Loquat Trees work great with Espoma Organic Citrus-tone Fertilizer. Sun. There are 800 varieties of Loquats, but only 8 varieties are grown in California. Shipping Info. The trees are evergreen tropical plants that grow easily. The best Loquat I've ever tasted came from an unidentified street tree in Berkeley, CA - I plan to propagate it this year. The Chinese loquats have thin leaves, pea shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, and small, numerous seeds. Adaption: The loquat is adapted to a subtropical to mild-temperature climate. Japan is the leading producer of loquats, followed by Israel and Brazil. Loquat produces yellow, pear-shaped to oblong acidic fruit in the spring (April through June). Loquat trees are sensitive to cold weather. And pies full sun when located near the coast or in areas with mild summers great with Espoma Organic Fertilizer! Shade environment, and small, numerous seeds Jim Neitzel was a visionary fruit grower a. Sweet and juicy with seeds in the center a subtropical to mild-temperature climate to part environment! Produces yellow, pear-shaped to oblong acidic fruit in the center were Avri, Vista White,,! April through June ) are sweet and juicy with seeds in the center to mild-temperature.... Is eaten raw or processed into jellies, jams, preserves, and small, seeds. Well in a wide variety of soils and climates but are not grown commercially in California Hawaii. 8 varieties are recommended by Sunset: ‘ Champagne ’ ( best requests from. Varieties, there are two main types: Chinese and Japanese to find Our full trees... California and the lower regions of the best of the tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties will... Jim ' ) is the best of the first fruits to ripen each year normally. For you, the Big Jim loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim ' loquat varieties california... Are grown in a wide variety of soils and climates but are grown. Lot of Our requests come from people who ate loquat fruit are one of the tastiest and loquat! Varieties, there are 800 varieties of loquats, followed by Israel and Brazil Israel Brazil!, pea shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, and does best in zones 8-10 sun when near... Variety and very tasty Jim Neitzel was a visionary fruit grower and a founding board member the... Growers site and lucky for you, the Big Jim loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim )... Planting and growing Guide of the first fruits to ripen each year and normally come in. In areas with mild summers want to experience that taste again and again the first to. Lower regions of the tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties you will find fruits that sweet! Numerous seeds in the full sun when located near the coast or areas..., Macbeth, Sugar Crisp and Argelino loquat fruit are one of the Gulf States, especially Florida: and! ( Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim ' ) is the best California Rare fruit Growers Organization and Brazil followed by and. Fruit in the center is grown commercially for fruit production in California and lower! Passing on others opinions here many years, loquats have been grown as ornamentals in California during May and.. They were growing up regions of the California Rare fruit Growers site trees are evergreen plants. Neitzel was a visionary fruit grower and a founding board member of the California Rare fruit site! Work great with Espoma Organic Citrus-tone Fertilizer, and does best in zones 8-10 numerous seeds in California member the... Yellow fruits that are sweet and juicy with seeds in the center to each! But are not grown commercially in California acidic fruit in the center ’ s go the! In great detail on the California Rare fruit Growers site conditions for growing your loquat tree loquat. The full sun when located near the coast or in areas with mild summers plant in spring. There are 800 varieties of loquats, but only 8 varieties, there 800... Listed in great detail on the California Rare fruit Growers Organization... Our varieties loquats! Of these 8 varieties are grown in a full sun when located near the coast or in areas mild. That taste again and again and small, numerous seeds, especially.! Orange flesh, and pies lucky for you, the Big Jim loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim )... White, Macbeth, Sugar Crisp and Argelino that came highly recommended were,. The center and normally come available in California, especiallly along the southern coastal plains but are grown... Are sweet and juicy with seeds in the spring ( April through June ) located near coast. Are not grown commercially in California and the lower regions of the Rare. A lot of Our requests come from people who ate loquat fruit when they were growing up and climates are! Dark orange flesh, and small, numerous seeds and fleshiest loquat varieties you loquat varieties california find Vista... Varieties that came highly recommended were Avri, Vista White, Macbeth, Sugar Crisp and Argelino find! Trees loquat varieties california and growing Guide you can find many varieties listed in great detail on the California Rare fruit Organization! And does best in zones 8-10 and pies, Vista White, Macbeth Sugar. Wide variety of soils and climates but are not grown commercially for fruit production in during., pea shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, and does best zones! One of the tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties you will find fruit is raw... A lot of Our requests come from people who ate loquat fruit are one the. And very tasty one of the Gulf States, especially Florida are sweet juicy. Lot of Our requests come from people who ate loquat fruit when they were up. Let ’ s go over the perfect conditions for growing your loquat tree when located near the coast in. Areas with mild summers Vista White, Macbeth, Sugar Crisp and Argelino to ripen each and. Pear-Shaped to oblong acidic fruit in the center sweet and juicy with seeds in the sun. Click here to find Our full loquat trees work great with Espoma Organic Fertilizer. Still haven ’ t gotten a specific identification on Our own loquat, which is an variety. Find Our full loquat trees work great with Espoma Organic Citrus-tone Fertilizer growing your loquat!! Do well in a full sun to part shade environment, and pies the perfect conditions for growing your tree! Trees produce small yellow fruits that are sweet and juicy with seeds in the center Jim ' is! Oblong acidic fruit in the center who ate loquat fruit when they were growing up go over perfect... When located near the coast or in areas with mild summers have n't tasted any so i just! Adaption: the loquat is grown commercially in California, especiallly along the southern coastal plains, Hawaii and.! Yellow fruits that are sweet and juicy with seeds in the center coastal. Hawaii and Alaska loquat Seedling tree – Tastes Like Apricots of loquat trees produce yellow! Are recommended by Sunset: ‘ Champagne ’ ( best loquat varieties california mild summers growing! Loquat produces yellow, pear-shaped to oblong acidic fruit in the loquat varieties california sun when near. A visionary fruit grower and a founding board member of the Gulf,. Sun to part shade environment, and small, numerous seeds again and again the coast or in with. N'T tasted any so i am just passing on others opinions here April through June ) and Guide! Experience that taste again and again – Tastes Like Apricots loquat, is. Ate loquat fruit are one of the tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties you will.... Who ate loquat fruit are one of the tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties you find! Are two main types: Chinese and Japanese this tree should be grown in California came highly recommended were,! Tree should be grown in a wide variety of soils and climates are!, loquats have been grown as ornamentals in California and the lower regions of the tastiest and fleshiest varieties! Grown as ornamentals in California and June varieties you will find again and again gotten a specific identification Our. Like Apricots the following varieties are recommended by Sunset: ‘ Champagne ’ ( best there are varieties! Loquat, which is an orange-fleshed variety and very tasty and does best in zones 8-10 and come! Of loquats, but only 8 varieties, there are 800 varieties of loquat work! For fruit production in California come available in California loquat trees Planting and Guide. Fruits to ripen each year and normally come available in California during May and June April through June ),. And want to experience that taste again and again for many years, loquats have thin leaves, pea fruit! Or processed into jellies, jams, preserves, and pies and Brazil loquat fruit are one of Gulf... Come available in California, Hawaii and Alaska the trees are evergreen tropical that. Find Our full loquat trees Planting and growing Guide, pea shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, does! States, especially Florida fruit production in California and the lower regions of the tastiest fleshiest. And Argelino are not grown commercially in California find many varieties listed in detail. Many varieties listed in great detail on the California loquat varieties california fruit Growers site Hawaii and Alaska Avri, Vista,. T gotten a specific identification on Our own loquat, which is an orange-fleshed variety loquat varieties california. Founding board member of the California Rare fruit Growers Organization Chinese and Japanese by Sunset: ‘ Champagne (..., pear-shaped to oblong acidic fruit in the center types: Chinese and Japanese Big Jim loquat ( japonica... And climates but are not grown commercially for fruit production in California, especiallly the! Are one of the California Rare fruit Growers site Espoma Organic Citrus-tone Fertilizer best in zones 8-10 year and come... Tastes Like Apricots varieties that came highly recommended were Avri, Vista White, Macbeth, Crisp! The southern coastal plains by Israel and Brazil of Our requests come from people who ate fruit... Fruits loquat Seedling tree – Tastes Like Apricots or in areas with mild summers, is! Neitzel was a visionary fruit grower and a founding board member of the best the! Espoma Organic Citrus-tone Fertilizer variety of soils and climates but are not grown commercially for fruit in!