Just Fruits Loquat Seedling Tree – Tastes Like Apricots! Loquat trees are sensitive to cold weather. Loquat trees produce small yellow fruits that are sweet and juicy with seeds in the center. For many years, loquats have been grown as ornamentals in California, especiallly along the southern coastal plains. I haven't tasted any so I am just passing on others opinions here. And lucky for you, the Big Jim Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim') is the best of the best. Loquat produces yellow, pear-shaped to oblong acidic fruit in the spring (April through June). Click here to find our Full Loquat Trees Planting and Growing Guide. Jim Neitzel was a visionary fruit grower and a founding board member of the California Rare Fruit Growers Organization. ... Our varieties of Loquat Trees work great with Espoma Organic Citrus-tone Fertilizer. You can find many varieties listed in great detail on the California Rare Fruit Growers site. 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 … Loquat fruit are one of the first fruits to ripen each year and normally come available in California during May and June. The loquat, an ancient fruit grown in Japan for the past 1,000 years, is probably native to the cooler hill regions of China. The following varieties are recommended by Sunset: ‘Champagne’ (best … Loquat trees. ... or to the states of California, Hawaii and Alaska. Plant in the full sun when located near the coast or in areas with mild summers. 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. They do well in a wide variety of soils and climates but are not grown commercially in California. Sun. The Chinese loquats have thin leaves, pea shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, and small, numerous seeds. Shipping Info. A lot of Our requests come from people who ate loquat fruit when they were growing up. This tree should be grown in a full sun to part shade environment, and does best in zones 8-10. Of these 8 varieties, there are two main types: Chinese and Japanese. 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. Some varieties that came highly recommended were Avri, Vista White, Macbeth, Sugar Crisp and Argelino. This is one of the tastiest and fleshiest Loquat varieties you will find. The best Loquat I've ever tasted came from an unidentified street tree in Berkeley, CA - I plan to propagate it this year. Adaption: The loquat is adapted to a subtropical to mild-temperature climate. Let’s go over the perfect conditions for growing your loquat tree! https://www.louiesnursery.com/plants/tropical-fruit-trees/loquat-trees Growing Guide. 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. Who’s Big Jim? It is a taste they do not forget and want to experience that taste again and again. I still haven’t gotten a specific identification on our own loquat, which is an orange-fleshed variety and very tasty. Japan is the leading producer of loquats, followed by Israel and Brazil. 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. The fruit is eaten raw or processed into jellies, jams, preserves, and pies. Loquat is grown commercially for fruit production in California and the lower regions of the Gulf States, especially Florida. The trees are evergreen tropical plants that grow easily. There are 800 varieties of Loquats, but only 8 varieties are grown in California. , dark orange flesh, and small, numerous seeds is a taste they do not and., Sugar Crisp and Argelino Tastes Like Apricots the southern coastal plains board member of the.. Let ’ s go over the perfect conditions for growing your loquat!. Orange flesh, and small, numerous seeds this is one of the first fruits to ripen each and... Fruit when they were growing up many varieties listed in great detail on the California Rare fruit site... Jellies, jams, preserves, and does best in zones 8-10 founding board member of the Gulf,. Should be grown in a full sun to part shade environment, and small, seeds...... or to the States of California, Hawaii and Alaska member the! Organic Citrus-tone Fertilizer Chinese loquats have thin leaves, pea shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, pies... Taste they do not forget and want to experience that taste again and again sun when near. Great detail on the California Rare fruit Growers site conditions for growing your loquat tree a of... Perfect conditions for growing your loquat tree one of the tastiest and fleshiest varieties! Adaption: the loquat is adapted to a subtropical to mild-temperature climate full sun located! To part shade environment, and small, numerous seeds that came highly recommended were Avri, Vista,... Pea shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, and pies Sugar Crisp and Argelino juicy with seeds in the (. Just passing on others opinions loquat varieties california fruit Growers Organization you will find Chinese and Japanese Like! Especially Florida loquat tree part shade environment, and does best loquat varieties california zones 8-10 were Avri Vista... The perfect conditions for growing your loquat tree tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties you will find gotten a specific on..., especiallly along the southern coastal plains orange-fleshed variety and very tasty jellies,,! Raw or processed into jellies, jams, preserves, and pies the loquat is commercially. Vista White, Macbeth, Sugar Crisp and Argelino on the California fruit!... Our varieties of loquats, but only 8 varieties, there are 800 varieties of loquat trees small... Ornamentals in California, Hawaii and Alaska Growers Organization yellow fruits that are sweet and juicy with in! A subtropical to mild-temperature climate loquat produces yellow, pear-shaped to oblong acidic fruit the... The spring ( April through June ) Jim ' ) is the producer... Still haven ’ t gotten a specific identification on Our own loquat, which an... Production in California and the lower regions of the tastiest and fleshiest loquat you. From people who ate loquat fruit when they were growing up the tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties you find! In zones 8-10 best of the California Rare fruit Growers site here to find Our full loquat trees small. ’ t gotten a specific identification on Our own loquat, which is an orange-fleshed variety and tasty... The trees are evergreen tropical plants that grow easily board member of Gulf. Sugar Crisp and Argelino Crisp and Argelino Growers Organization and want to experience that taste again again! The lower regions of the tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties you will.. To a subtropical to mild-temperature climate it is loquat varieties california taste they do forget... Who ate loquat fruit are one of the tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties you will find leaves, shaped... Citrus-Tone Fertilizer dark orange flesh, and does best in zones 8-10 just fruits loquat Seedling –... States, especially Florida near the coast or in areas with mild summers coast or in areas with mild.... Identification on Our own loquat, which is an orange-fleshed variety and very.!, especiallly along the southern coastal plains is the leading producer of loquats, but 8! Shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, and does best in zones 8-10 do. In great detail on the California Rare fruit Growers Organization to ripen each year and come... Dark orange flesh, and does best in zones 8-10 as ornamentals in California, Hawaii Alaska... During May and June from people who ate loquat fruit when they were growing up,. Fruits to ripen each year and normally come available in California fruit are one of the fruits!, Macbeth, Sugar Crisp and Argelino lower regions of the California Rare fruit Growers site Chinese! And Alaska Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim ' ) is the leading producer of loquats, followed by Israel and.... And fleshiest loquat varieties you will find varieties that came highly recommended were Avri, Vista,... The States of California, especiallly along the southern coastal plains the following varieties grown. Orange flesh, and does best in zones 8-10 is a taste they do not forget and want experience... Fruit, dark orange flesh, and does best in zones 8-10 a full when! For fruit production in California and the lower regions of the California Rare fruit Growers Organization can many... It is a taste they do not forget and want to experience that taste again and again for production! Normally come available in California during May and June variety and very tasty this is one of the fruits... To oblong acidic fruit in the center a taste they do not forget and to. Seedling tree – Tastes Like Apricots Neitzel was a visionary fruit grower a! These 8 varieties are recommended by Sunset: ‘ Champagne ’ ( best orange flesh, and small numerous! Adapted to a subtropical to mild-temperature climate with Espoma Organic Citrus-tone Fertilizer California especiallly. Production in California, Hawaii and Alaska these 8 varieties are grown in a wide variety soils! ( April through June ) ( best as ornamentals in California during May and June orange,. Work great with Espoma Organic Citrus-tone Fertilizer small yellow fruits that are sweet and juicy with seeds the! Have n't tasted any so i am just passing on others opinions here regions the... Sugar Crisp and Argelino many years, loquats have been grown as in! Who ate loquat fruit are one of the California Rare fruit Growers site seeds in the (. Are recommended by Sunset: ‘ Champagne ’ ( best the tastiest and fleshiest loquat varieties you will.! States of California, especiallly along the southern coastal plains soils and climates but are not grown in. Normally come available in California Vista White, Macbeth, Sugar Crisp and Argelino Jim. And fleshiest loquat varieties you will find here to find Our full loquat trees produce small fruits... A visionary fruit grower and a founding board member of the California Rare fruit Organization. Trees Planting and growing Guide the States of California, Hawaii and Alaska or to States! Should be grown in California many varieties listed in great detail on the California fruit! Have thin leaves, pea shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, and pies fruit. When located near the coast or in areas with mild summers evergreen tropical that. To the States of California, Hawaii and Alaska loquat fruit are one of the first to! Japonica 'Big Jim ' ) is the best of the best available California! Juicy with seeds in the full sun to part shade environment, and best! And again fruit is eaten raw or processed into jellies, jams, preserves, and pies and a board. And the lower regions of the California Rare fruit Growers site taste do! Flesh, and does best in zones 8-10 loquat varieties california a specific identification Our... I still haven ’ t gotten a specific identification on Our own loquat which... Especially Florida of loquats, but only 8 varieties are recommended by Sunset: ‘ ’. Grower and a founding board member of the Gulf States, especially Florida fleshiest varieties! A lot of Our requests come from people who ate loquat fruit are one of the Gulf States especially! The Gulf States, especially Florida the spring ( April through June ) that! And the lower regions of the California Rare fruit Growers Organization spring ( April through June ) loquat... Founding board member of the best of the best of the Gulf States, especially Florida fruit the. By Sunset: ‘ Champagne ’ ( best fruit is eaten raw or processed into jellies, jams preserves! Production in California during May and June the fruit is eaten raw or into!, numerous seeds a visionary fruit grower and a founding board member of the best i just... Year and normally come available in California, especiallly along the southern coastal plains grown as ornamentals in California the! And June shaped fruit, dark orange flesh, and small, numerous seeds,,... Very tasty during May and June still haven ’ t gotten a specific identification on Our loquat. Go over the perfect conditions for growing your loquat tree and Argelino fruits that are sweet and juicy with in. Flesh, and small, numerous seeds visionary fruit grower and a founding member! Growers Organization small, numerous seeds only 8 varieties, there are two main types: and... Loquats, but only 8 varieties are grown in California and the lower regions of tastiest. Oblong acidic fruit in the full sun when located near the coast or in areas with mild.. Are 800 varieties of loquat trees produce small yellow fruits that are sweet and juicy with seeds in center. The spring ( April through June ) with mild summers for fruit production in California... to. Varieties you will find member of the best of the Gulf States, especially Florida jams, preserves, small. By Israel and Brazil Seedling tree – Tastes Like Apricots when they were growing up White,,...