Fruit Tree
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica · Rosaceae
Also called: Japanese Plum (misnomer), Japanese Medlar, Nispero
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is a moderate-water fruit tree well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, with a moderate growth rate. Expect white (fragrant) blooms fall to early winter.
Loquat at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade; in Tucson, afternoon/filtered shade helps protect fruit and foliage from intense summer sun and reflected heat.
- Mature size
- 15-25 ft tall and wide; often kept smaller as a large shrub or small patio tree.
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Bloom
- White (fragrant), Blooms fall to early winter (fragrant white flowers); fruit ripens late winter to spring (roughly Feb-April in the low desert).
- Cold hardiness
- Tree is hardy to about 15-18°F, but its fall/winter flowers and developing fruit are damaged below ~26-27°F, so hard Tucson freezes can destroy a crop. Protect flowers/young fruit and young trees during freezes.
- Soil
- Adaptable but needs well-drained soil; tolerates Tucson's alkaline soils though iron may be needed. Mulch to keep roots cool and moist.
- Native range
- Native to southeastern China (long cultivated in Japan); not native to Arizona.
- Best used as
- Fresh eating, Jam/jelly/preserves, Evergreen shade/screen, Ornamental edible landscape
- Wildlife
- Fragrant winter flowers are a valuable nectar source for bees when little else blooms; ripe fruit attracts birds.
- Toxicity
- Fruit flesh is edible; the seeds/pits contain cyanogenic compounds and should not be eaten by people or pets. Foliage/seeds are mildly toxic to dogs and cats if chewed.
How to grow Loquat in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Regular, even moisture - deep water about weekly in summer heat, every 2-3 weeks in cooler months; this evergreen does not go dormant, so it needs year-round irrigation. Consistent moisture during winter-spring fruit development prevents drop and small fruit.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Feed with a balanced or citrus-type fertilizer in early spring and again after harvest (late spring/summer); apply iron/zinc chelate to prevent chlorosis common in alkaline Tucson soils.
Pruning & care
Evergreen and low-maintenance; prune lightly after fruit harvest in spring to shape, thin the canopy for air circulation, and control size. Thinning fruit clusters improves size.
Notes
Grows well in Tucson as an attractive evergreen with bold tropical-looking foliage, but fruiting is the catch: because it flowers in fall/winter, a hard freeze often kills the bloom and you get foliage without a crop in colder years. Site it in a warm microclimate (south/west wall, courtyard) with some afternoon shade and frost protection for reliable fruit. Self-fruitful. Plant from container in fall or spring.
Sources: Civano Nursery (Tucson) - Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica): https://civanonursery.com/plant-catalog/loquat-eriobotrya-japonica/; Clemson HGIC - Loquat Care, Cultivation & Growing Guide: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/loquat-eriobotrya-japonica-care-cultivation-growing-guide/; Garden Oracle - Growing Loquat: Eriobotrya japonica: https://gardenoracle.com/images/eriobotrya-japonica.html