The Japanese have grown this one for over a thousand years, they call it biwa, and use it in all kinds of things. Ours is still working on catching up to that kind of history.
The Basics
Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, is a tree in the rose family, Rosaceae.
Origin and Habitat
Native to China, though it’s been cultivated in Japan for so long, over a thousand years, that most people associate it with Japan first.
What It Looks Like
A small to medium evergreen tree with large, leathery leaves and clusters of small orange fruit.
Uses and Flavor
Eaten fresh, sweet-tart with a texture somewhere between a plum and an apple. In Japan, biwa is used in everything from fresh eating to syrups and traditional remedies.
Growing It Here
Ours is the grafted Obusa variety, planted in the middle of what was, at the time, a fairly chaotic squash patch.
Pests and Diseases to Watch For
Nothing to report so far.
Kenta’s Take
A thousand years of cultivation history is a tough act to follow, but a grafted variety in a squash patch is a reasonable place to start.