- **Type**: Evergreen shrub or small tree

- **Height**: 10 to 25 feet (3 to 7.6 meters), often smaller in cultivation (10-15 feet)

- **Width**: 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters), depending on pruning

- **Growth Habit**: Rounded crown, dense, bushy; short trunk with woolly new twigs

- **Foliage**:

- Elliptical to lance-shaped leaves, 5 to 12 inches long (12.5 to 30 cm), 2 to 4 inches wide (5 to 10 cm)

- Dark green, glossy upper surface; whitish to rusty-hairy underside, thick and leathery

- Evergreen, with new growth sometimes tinged red

- **Flowers**:

- Small, white, star-shaped blooms in terminal panicles, 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) across

- Bloom season: Fall to early winter (October to February)

- Sweetly fragrant, attracts bees

- **Fruit**:

- Oval, rounded, or pear-shaped, 1 to 2 inches long (2.5 to 5 cm)

- Yellow to orange skin, sometimes red-blushed; juicy, tangy flesh (white, yellow, or orange)

- Contains 1-10 large brown seeds (usually 3-5); ripens spring to early summer (March to June)

- **Light**: Full sun (6+ hours daily) for best fruiting; tolerates partial shade (4-6 hours)

- **Soil**:

- Well-drained, fertile; adapts to sandy, loamy, or clay soils

- Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0 to 7.0); intolerant of standing water

- **Watering**: Moderate; keep moist until established, then drought-tolerant; water during bloom and fruit set

- **Hardiness**: USDA Zones 8 to 11 (10°F or -12°C; flowers/fruit damaged below 27°F or -3°C)

- **Wildlife**: Attracts bees (flowers) and birds (fruit); not reliably deer-resistant

- **Care**:

- Prune after harvest (summer) to shape, thin dense growth, or limit height (6-12 feet for easy picking)

- Fertilize 3 times yearly with a balanced mix (e.g., 10-10-10), 1-2 cups per tree depending on size

- Thin fruit clusters to improve size; mulch to retain moisture

- **Pests/Diseases**:

- Resistant to most pests; may see fire blight, scale, or aphids

- Susceptible to root rot in soggy soil; shallow roots need care during cultivation

- **Uses**: Ornamental tree, fruit production, hedges, containers, or espalier

- **Growth Rate**: Moderate to fast; 1-3 feet per year in ideal conditions

- **Special Features**:

- Native to south-central China; cultivated in Japan for over 1,000 years

- High in vitamin A, fiber, and antioxidants; fruit used fresh, in jams, or poached

- Toxic seeds/leaves (cyanogenic glycosides), though rarely consumed in harmful amounts

The loquat’s tropical vibe, bold foliage, and sweet-tangy fruit make it a gem for warm-climate gardens or as a potted plant where winters are mild. It’s tough, adaptable, and blooms when most trees don’t—late fall to winter—ripening fruit in spring. Let me know if you’d like more details or care tips!