'Oliver' Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) Seeds

'Oliver' Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) Seeds

Flavor:  Exotic Plumcot Taste
Fruit Size:  Medium
Fruit Type:  Orange, Plum Texture
Growth Habits:  Balanced Ornamental Canopy, Semi-Vigorous, Leathery Leaves, Beautiful Flowers, Heavily Prolific
Season:  Late, Staggered Crop
Tolerances:  Resistant to Drought, Heat, Humidity, Wet, Wind, Cold
Growing Zone:  8A or higher (9 is Perfect)
Positioning:  Full Sun, Part Sun
Special:  Extremely aromatic flowers for edible landscapes

The Oliver, very common, has been deemed one of the best cultivars in the southeast, especially Florida, due to its unique flavor and great tolerances to rainy and windy climates with dense heat and humidity. Backyard growers and businesses with edible landscapes typically flock to the Oliver loquat to display its extraordinarily beautiful flowers and incredibly aromatic fragrances and super abundances of fruit. Requiring very little care, this is a great ‘plant it and forget it’ loquat for beginners. The leaves can be susceptible to ‘rust’ fungi and certain leaf pests and may require occasional treatment before flowering and again when new growth appears after harvesting the fruit. Has a nicely shaped canopy for grafting other varieties. The intensity of fragrances from the flowers are powerful enough to detect across a full acre of land from a single tree and is very pleasant.

Be advised that the actual fruit of a seedling will not be the same as its parentage, but many physical properties of the tree’s genetic markers may carry over, such as size, growing patterns, prolificity, resistances and tolerances. Also, actual fruit does tend to be similar in many regards and may even have an improved flavor if you are fortunate.  Our loquats are pollinated with only improved cultivars and the seeds will carry over much of the desirable characteristics and qualities.

Our loquat seeds have been freshly harvested for the season and have a shelf life of approximately 6 months and should be planted as soon as possible once received.  Loquat seeds must be germinated in moist-dry conditions (not wet), and prefer coarse sandy, loamy soils with a good mix of fine pine bark particulates and humus--extremely well-draining.  Loquats are not heavy feeders, and the use of fast-release fertilizers should be avoided.  Only fertilize with slow-release, light feeds with micros such as polymer-coated controlled-release for supplying mineral nutrients.