Eriobotrya japonica Origin: Japan and China Improvement status: Unknown Seeds per packet: 8 BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED Life cycle: Perennial Loquat, sometimes known as Japanese loquat or Japanese medlar (for a superficial resemblance of the fruits and leaves), is a beautiful tree native to Japan and China, that in warm countries produces two annual crops of exceedingly tasty plum-like fruits. It has large, leathery, evergreen leaves (with a sometimes fuzzy appearance) that are both ornamental and medicinal. Due to its beauty, deliciousness, and ease of cultivation, loquats have spread around the world. They are especially popular in the Mediterranean region, but can also be found frequently in the warmer parts of the US (California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and especially Hawaii, where it can be downright invasive). Loquat has established itself in countries including Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Mauritius, Comoros, Palestine, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Cape Verde, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago (probably among others). The loquat tree thrives in tropical climates, clearly, but it is also capable of withstanding more cold than most tropical fruits, with USDA Zones 8-11 being hospitable to it, and some individuals managing to survive in places that are USDA Zone 7 (especially when planted in urban areas, close to buildings or stone walls, or other protected areas). Recent reports mention trees growing successfully in Belgium! The long-lived trees can reach over a century in age. The fruits of loquat are apricot-yellow, with juicy flesh, thin skins, and an appealing fragrance. They are eaten raw and also made in to jams, jellies, wines, and much more. Unripe fruit makes a pie said to taste uncannily like cherry pie. The large seeds are sometimes cooked and eaten, but do contain some cyanide, so bitter seeds should be discarded and caution is advised. In China and neighboring countries, loquat is often a primary ingredient in cough drops and other medicine for respiratory ailments. The leaves are used medicinally against coughs as well, and also for their pain relieving, antibacterial, anti-nausea, antiviral, antifungal, astringent, diuretic, and expectorant properties. A decoction of the leaves or young shoots is used as a mouthwash against thrush, as an intestinal astringent, and againstt bronchitis, coughs, fevers, and more. The leaves are used both fresh and dry, though usually with the hairs are removed (especially for applications involving the throat). The fruit itself can be slightly astringent, particularly when underripe, and is used medicinally as an expectorant, sedative, and is used to allay vomiting and thirst. These seeds come our way from the good folks at Sheffield's Seed in Locke, NY. GROWING TIPS: Start seeds immediately or transfer to moist peat to store in the fridge. To germinate, soak seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. Germinates best in warm soil (75°F+), but may take up to three months. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep. Prefers sunlight or lightly shaded areas. Can be grown as a bonsai! Dry not store seeds long. NOTE: The images here are all in the public domain, including the ten beautiful pomological illustrations from over a century ago, each depicting different varieties (whose names can be found bottom left). These were done by a few different artists, whose signatures can be found in the bottom right corner of each image, often with initials for their first and middle names. The artists were Deborah Griscom Passmore (1840-1911), Elsie Lower Pomeroy (1882-1971), Bertha Heiges (1866-1956), Royal Charles Steadman (1875-1964), Ellen Isham Schutt (1873-1955), and Amanda Almira Newton (1858-1943), all contributors to the USDA's invaluable Pomological Watercolor Collection, which is 7,600 paintings in all (roughly one-fifth were contributed by Deborah Passmore, the most prolific artist of the bunch, with Amanda Newton coming in second, responsible for roughly one-sixth of those 7,600 illustrations).
