Mizuho Loquat Tree

Mizuho Loquat Tree

Along with Obusa, Mizuho loquat was introduced to the Hawaiian islands in the 1990s from Japan. It has some of the largest fruits, sometimes up to 100 grams, and is very sweet. We are unsure if Mizuho will produce flowers late enough into the season to reliably produce fruit in more northern climates but excited by the greenhouse grown fruit we’ve tasted from it.

A strikingly beautiful, small to medium size evergreen tree, Loquats feature long, dark green, deeply toothed foliage and tasty, light orange, apricot-like fruit. Loquat is very happy in the Maritime Northwest, although its pesky habit of blooming in the winter makes it difficult to produce fruit in our region, though planting more than one plant as well as providing habitat for over wintering hummingbirds that pollinate the loquat flowers greatly increases chances of fruit. Loquat’s ornamental value makes it well worth growing and, depending on the winter weather, you should occasionally receive a crop of this unusual and delicious fruit.

Latin Name: Eriobotrya japonica
Site and Soil: Loquats like 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: This tree is partially self-fertile, planting with other loquat varieties or seedlings can help to ensure fruit set
Rootstock: grafted on loquat seedlings
Hardiness: Hardy to 0º F. or below.
Bearing Age: 3-5 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 12-15 ft, up to 30 ft. with great age if left unpruned
Bloom Time: December – February
Ripening Time: Early summer
Yield: 50+ lbs.
Pests & Diseases: This tree is not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 7
Sunset Western Zone: 6-24, H1, H2