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LOQUAT TREE – Fragrant Flowers & Spring Fruit – 1 Gallon - $6 (Brooksville)
5479 White Rd.
size / dimensions:
1 Gallon
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Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), also called Japanese plum, brings bold evergreen foliage, fragrant flowers, and colorful spring fruit to Florida gardens. Its rounded canopy makes an attractive landscape feature, while ripe fruit is enjoyed fresh or in preserves.
Available in a 1 gallon pot. Variety is unknown; fruit flavor, color, size, and production will vary.
We also have larger ones in 3 Gal pots for $15
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🌱 PLANT KNOWLEDGE
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1. Is this plant edible and what parts?
YES! The ripe fruit flesh is edible raw or cooked. Wash, remove every seed and the stem, and peel if desired. Enjoy in fruit salads, jams, jellies, or pies.
Do NOT eat, chew, grind, or blend the seeds; they contain compounds that can release cyanide. Remove seeds before cooking, too. Leaves, bark, and stems are not being offered as food. Keep seeds and plant trimmings away from children and pets.
2. How big will this plant/tree get at maturity?
Typically about 15–30 feet tall and 15–25 feet wide, occasionally larger. Selective pruning can maintain a smaller canopy. Containers can limit growth, but require repotting and regular care; a 1 gallon pot is a nursery starting size.
3. How much sunlight does it need—full sun, partial shade, or full shade?
Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours daily, supports good fruiting. Partial shade is tolerated. Established trees generally handle Florida sun without routine afternoon shade when adequately watered.
4. What type of soil does it prefer, and does it need good drainage?
Well-drained loam or sandy soil works well. Loquat tolerates a range of soil pH, including moderately alkaline conditions. Avoid flooded ground and persistently soggy container mix.
5. How often does it need to be watered, especially during dry months?
Check newly planted trees frequently and water when the root ball begins drying, keeping it moist without saturation. Gradually space out watering as roots establish. Established trees tolerate dry spells, but supplemental watering during fruit development supports cropping. Check a 1 gallon pot daily in warm weather; small containers dry quickly. Adjust for rainfall and soil moisture.
6. Is it drought-tolerant or cold-hardy in my area?
Established loquats are drought-tolerant and generally suited to USDA Zones 8–11. They grow well in Central Florida, including Brooksville. The tree is much hardier than its crop: temperatures around 27–28°F can kill flowers and young fruit. Protect newly planted trees and container roots during severe cold. A surviving tree can grow again even when that season's crop is lost.
7. Does it attract pollinators like bees or butterflies, or repel pests?
Fragrant flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects; birds enjoy the fruit. One tree may set fruit, but another genetically different loquat can improve pollination. It is not a dependable pest repellent.
8. How fast does it grow, and will it need pruning or shaping?
Moderate to fast under favorable conditions. Train young branches and thin crowded growth. Prune for size after harvest to preserve the next flowering cycle. Thinning crowded fruit clusters can reduce branch strain and improve remaining fruit size.
9. Is it evergreen or does it lose its leaves in the fall?
An evergreen perennial tree. It replaces older leaves throughout the year rather than dropping its entire canopy each fall. Large fallen leaves and fruit may need cleanup near patios.
10. Does it produce flowers, fruit, or seeds—and when?
Fragrant flowers appear in fall and winter; Florida fruit generally ripens February–May. Seedlings may take 6–8 years before bearing and may differ from their parent. Grafted or other vegetatively propagated trees often bear within 1–2 years after planting under suitable conditions. This tree's age and propagation method are unknown; pot size does not predict first harvest.
11. Are there any common diseases or pests I should watch out for?
Watch for fire blight, leaf spots, scab, spider mites, scale, and fruit flies. Remove fallen or damaged fruit, maintain airflow, and avoid prolonged soggy conditions. Seek guidance for blackened, blighted shoots. Bagging fruit clusters can help reduce fruit-fly damage.
12. What does the flower or fruit look like?
Small, creamy-white, five-petaled flowers grow in fragrant clusters. Fruit is round, oval, or pear-shaped, commonly 1–2 inches long, with yellow to orange skin. Juicy flesh surrounds large, shiny brown seeds. Exact fruit characteristics depend on the unknown variety.
🌿 GARDEN TIP
Harvest when fruit has developed its mature color and tastes ripe. Collect fallen fruit and remove unwanted seedlings to keep the planting tidy.
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🌱 Come check out our plants at:
📍 Alya Plant Nursery
5479 White Road
Brooksville, FL 34602
📞 Six five six two 31 zero 671
Call anytime between 8am to 4pm. Were closed on Monday's