Unique Collections – Loquats

Unique Collections – Loquats

An ever-changing selection of Loquats from our collection that we are either still trialing, eventually introducing, or are culling from the herd.

Brief descriptions of currently listed varieties:

Shambala: a very valuable cultivar for many reasons. It has a long flowering season, starting early and lasting into spring, which is very helpful for us in the PNW. And the flavor on it is incredible. It is the closest to a mango of any loquat we’ve tried.

Wolfe: a variety shared with us years ago for its ability to have a longer flowering period than others and therefore produce fruits in more marginal climates. So far, we haven’t seen too much evidence of that, but when it does make fruits, they are very tasty, almost like a candied orange flavor.

Oliver: huge clusters of flowers and therefore huge crops of loquats in the right climate, orange fruits have a sweet almost stone fruit flavor.

Harvest: sweet melon-y tasting fruits that have a light flesh color.

Premier: a compact selection with very sweet and tangy fruit.

Novak: very sweet fruits with very little tartness.

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.

Explore more Loquats HERE!

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