ORNAMENTAL ORIENTAL

WITH FRAGRANT FLOWERS IN AUTUMN AND GOLDEN FRUIT IN SPRING, THE LOQUAT IS ALL YOU COULD WANT IN AN EXOTIC TREE

Words Jennifer Stackhouse

Loquats are better known in Asia than Australia where, despite more than 100 years of cultivation, they are still viewed as an exotic fruit. The trees are often seen in old, overgrown gardens, laden in late winter and early spring with yellow fruit. The loquat originated in China where it’s known as pipa; its golden fruit symbolises wealth. It has been long grown in Japan — its specific name is japonica — and many named varieties originated there. These handsome evergreen trees are normally 3–4m tall in gardens but, if unpruned, can reach up to 10m in height. They can also be grown as large ornamental shrubs. The large dark-green leaves are heavily veined with a pleated look. The underside of the leaf is brown and downy, as are new shoots and fruit. Loquats flower…

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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #14.1

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