{"product_id":"loquat-eriobotrya-japonica","title":"Loquat - Eriobotrya japonica","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrice includes everything:\u003c\/strong\u003e the plant, free delivery and professional installation by our planting team. One price, whole job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLoquat - Eriobotrya japonica\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLoquat is one of the very few fruit trees that flowers in autumn and ripens in late winter, filling the hungriest gap in the home orchard calendar. \u003cem\u003eEriobotrya japonica\u003c\/em\u003e is worth planting for its structure alone: large, deeply corrugated leaves with rust coloured felted undersides, held on a dense rounded canopy that looks substantial year round. It is remarkably forgiving, growing happily from Perth to Sydney to the cooler tablelands, and needs only sun and drainage to succeed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy Loquat\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOff season crop\u003c\/strong\u003e: Fruit ripens from late winter into spring, when almost nothing else in the garden is producing.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBold foliage\u003c\/strong\u003e: Large ribbed leaves with a felted reverse give a strong architectural texture uncommon in fruit trees.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter fragrance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Small cream flowers open in autumn and early winter and carry a sweet scent on still days.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBroad adaptability\u003c\/strong\u003e: It handles coastal salt, inland heat, poor soils and frost down to around minus eight degrees once established.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShade and shelter\u003c\/strong\u003e: The dense evergreen canopy makes it a genuine small shade tree, not just a crop plant.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eIdeal Applications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBackyard shade and fruit\u003c\/strong\u003e: One tree covers a seating area and produces fruit for jam, chutney or fresh eating.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEspalier on a warm wall\u003c\/strong\u003e: Trained flat it saves space and the extra reflected warmth advances ripening.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEvergreen screen\u003c\/strong\u003e: Planted in a row it gives a substantial year round visual barrier with bold texture.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeritage and cottage gardens\u003c\/strong\u003e: It is a long standing feature of older Australian gardens and suits that planting style.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecimen \u0026amp; Installation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (screening\/hedge):\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.5 to 3m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (feature\/avenue):\u003c\/strong\u003e 5 to 6m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest Planting Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Autumn or spring\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil \u0026amp; Drainage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adaptable to most soils from sand to improved clay, provided drainage is free. It performs best in deep loam and will not tolerate waterlogging.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablishment Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly through the first two summers, then keep moisture up during fruit swell in late winter to improve size and reduce splitting. Mulch to conserve moisture, prune immediately after harvest to keep the tree at picking height, and net or bag fruit in fruit fly country, since loquat is a favoured host.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePlant Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 to 8m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 to 6m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun for best cropping; tolerates part shade\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative to:\u003c\/strong\u003e South central China\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cream white, fragrant, in autumn and early winter\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Direct","offers":[{"title":"400mm","offer_id":59795288490270,"sku":"ND-1116-400MM","price":800.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100L","offer_id":59795288523038,"sku":"ND-1116-100L","price":1225.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1000\/2536\/8862\/files\/Yfw1VXtqWoCTdZW8m07Q0_YDjlCMBQ.jpg?v=1787312770","url":"https:\/\/nurserydirect.com.au\/products\/loquat-eriobotrya-japonica","provider":"Nursery Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}