Gardening

Beautiful, Sweet and Medicinal

HOW TO GROW LOQUAT, AKA JAPANESE PLUM, IN THE COASTAL BEND BY: JUSTIN BUTTS

The loquat is a small evergreen tree or bush native to China. Portuguese merchants discovered loquats in the 1600s and traded them throughout Europe. Today, loquats flourish in temperate climates around the world — and grow especially well in the Coastal Bend.

There are two basic types: fruiting and ornamental varieties. Fruiting varieties consist of a fruiting cultivar (Gold Nugget, Advance, MacBeth, Champaign and others) grafted onto a hardy root stock. Ornamental varieties flower profusely but do not produce fruit. The leaf appearance is similar in both, although ornamental varieties are typically smaller.

Ornamental loquats can provide a stunning landscape screen or tall background hedge. Fruiting loquats can be pruned into the shape of a gorgeous specimen tree. For fruiting varieties, trim any shoots from the root stock, and prune the tree gently to allow air circulation to increase flowering and fruiting and reduce pest and disease damage from humidity. Healthy loquats can withstand the heat of summer with plenty of native leaf mulch.

Loquat fruit are a delight. It is unfortunate this fruit is not more commercially available, but large seeds displace about 30% of the fruit, making it less economically viable for largescale producers. China, where it grows prolifically in the wild, is by far the largest global producer of the fruit.

Loquats have been used as folk medicine in China for more than 1,000 years. They are loaded with flavonoids and carotenoids, antioxidants that boost the immune system. Loquats help prevent and control diabetes by reducing blood sugar, and the triterpene acids in loquat leaves and fruit help reduce inflammation. Loquats also add huge amounts of vital magnesium and calcium to the diet.

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GROWING UP

Spacing, 10’ to 25’. Height, 15’ to 25’. Spread, 10’ to 25’. Plant grafted fruiting or ornamental varieties in full sun. Benefits from evening shade but too much shade minimizes fruit production. Requires rich, well-drained soil. In clay-rich or sandy soil, add plenty of compost. Plant to the depth of soil line on trunk. Mulch heavily with native leaf mulch. No fertilizer needed. Few if any pests. Keep soil moist until established, then somewhat drought-tolerant.

PROFILING

Prune loquat trees minimally in late spring after fruiting. Rounded tree shape is nice, though can be a large bush. Trim cross branches and open tree to allow air circulation. Loquat trees flower in winter and fruit in spring. Yellow-orange fruit is 1” to 2” and grows in clusters. Harvest when fruit is plump and tender. Remove the one to three seeds. Eat fresh, dried or in jams or pies. Raccoons, squirrels and birds will menace fruit.

LOCAL RECS

"Enjoy the summer season with a refreshing, vibrant fruit salad with loquats as the star. You can combine just about any of your favorite fruits to pair with loquats: strawberries, kiwis, grapes, mangos, pineapple, watermelon – the list goes on and on. Don't forget to drizzle the fruit with agave nectar for added flavor, and garnish your salad with fresh herbs and citrus zest."

FUN FACTS

Loquats are a delicious medicine. The Chinese have treated bronchitis and lung infections with loquat leaf tea for centuries, boiling mature leaves of the tree for a soothing tea to help alleviate coughing and chest congestion. This home remedy is used extensively across Asia to this day.