Winter fragrance has to be the icing on the cake for this gorgeous shrub. I wrote a post some while back about all year round scent and I was scratching my head for plants that would perfume the air in early winter. Clusters of these creamy white blooms have appeared all over what is now a small-ish tree in my back garden, supplying an intoxicating, very sweet, honey-ish, mellow fragrance that I imagine could perfume a high quality soap! I can’t remember if there was such an abundance of blossom last November, and maybe this year’s wealth of flowers is due to our hot summer. Fruit develops over winter, ripening in early summer, but again, I can’t recall seeing a really ripe fruit to try one, or did the squirrels manage (as ever) to get there before me? I must be more vigilant next year.
Also known as a Loquat or Japanese Medlar, Eriobotyra japonica can easily be pruned to keep it as a large shrub and it’s a plant I see in many gardens (front and back) where I live in North London. Universally described as architectural, its multi stemmed form creates a generous, wide canopy, with its large glossy leaves hanging candelabra-esque at the end of the branches, giving a fantastic evergreen structure.
On late summer evenings, the velvety, paler underside of the leaves magically seem to catch the last rays of the day, providing another reason (should I need one) why this shrub/tree is greatly cherished in my N.London back garden.
P.S.
A few people have asked how hardy this plant is in the UK. Good question!
Architectural Plants say on their website that this plant is hardy in the home counties. I spoke to the lovely people at Big Plant Nursery, who said that it was a really hardy plant, but avoid planting in exposed sites and possibly wrap up smaller plants in cold weather until the plant is well established. It’s also supplied by Victoriana Nusery in Kent and the Palm centre in Richmond in London. If you do grow Eriobotrya japonica outside the home counties in the UK, do let me know!
P. P.S
Now in June, and my loquat tree has produced a good crop of fruits. This is a most tasty loquat and almond cake (from a Diana Henry recipe)!
My mother grew up in Buenos Aires eating the fruit of the loquat, known in Spanish as a ‘nispero’. The tree in my garden (grown from a seed she planted) has fruited the last couple of springs from the flowers it bears now, though, you are right, the squirrels have cottoned on to how delicious the fruit is. I managed to snatch a few not quite ripe ones before they cleaned the tree out last year. Our local greengrocers have been known to sell the fruit, though, which I recommend. A bit like an apricot, but slightly crisper and sharper, with a big stone in the middle. Which, if planted, might grow another tree, which could flower and fruit in ten years or so.
Hi Nicolette, must try and get a hold of one of these fruits to try next year! Unless we have an unseasonally warm spring (like we did i 2012), not sure if the fruit ever gets really ripe in the uk, although maybe the squirrels know better!
I’d never heard of it before 🙂
Hi PL, I think hardiness may be the reason why. Eriobotrya japonica is grown in the mediterranean, middle east and southern states (and Buenos Airies), so I’m not sure how hardy it is in different parts of the uk. Trawling the web, various reports state it can go down to -6 and then -15 happily. Possibly worth experimenting with?
This is why I love reading garden blogs – I always learn so much. I have vague memories of coming acoss this before years ago and dismissing it because my garden was too cold for it, but I might get away with it here. I will make a note and ponder where I might fit one it, I love the idea of fragrance at this time of year.
Hi Janet, Hopefully Eriobotrya should grow well in Bristol. Camellia sesanqua is also a great plant for scent this time of year, and although not quite as gorgeously sweet, does have the added attraction of riotously pink flowers too. As Welywoman and Caro say, Sarcococcas and Viburnham bodnantense also delighting with their winter scent at the moment.
You just answered a nagging question that has been in the back of my mind every time I pass a particularly tall eucalyptus tree on my early morning dog walks. At some times it smells like honeybees have been making honey in it but now I know that it is the loquat tree opposite this eucalyptus and not honey…that’s a great outcome because I have a couple of small loquats (won’t stay that way for long 😉 ) that I need to plant out. They grow so easily from seed and the fruit is delicious. We used to eat buckets of it when we were children. Thankyou for solving my puzzle 🙂
Hi Narf, delighted to have solved your mystery! Jealous that you’ll be able to grow (and eat) bucket loads of loquats! Tasmania does seem like a perfect climate for growing them. How big will they grow to?
The trees grow pretty big here. I noticed that the “honey” tree was quite large. I really love loquats and ate a lot of them when I lived in Western Australia (home state) and was surprised to see that they were more than happy to do well here in Tasmania where its a lot colder. When I found out that they are actually Japanese it made more sense but they really do love that Mediterranean warmth that Western Australia has and they grow incredibly well (like weeds) there 🙂
I hadn’t come across this shrub/tree either so thanks for highlighting this, Naomi – I’ll add it to my plant database. The two Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ in the gardens here are already covered with flowers and giving off that lovely scent. I don’t remember that happening this early last year but, trust me, I’m not complaining!
Hi Caro, this Viburnham is such a wonderful scent, probably somehwat stronger than the Eriobotrya and one that stops me in my tracks every time I smell it. Delicious!
That looks very lovely and to have scent in November is a huge treat. It’s new to me -I think I’m a rather unadventurous gardener- but certainly worthy of a space at this relatively quiet time of year.
Hi Sue, Love this plant all year round, but November scent is a huge bonus. Anna below asked if I inherited the plant and yes I did. There were many Greek Cypriots who moved to where I live some years ago and Eriobotyra must have been a great reminder of home. Until I really got into gardening, I never knew that it was a loquat, but it was a familiar sight in many a garden. So I think I’ve been lucky to have one ( and not too adventurous myself!).
That looks gorgeous Naomi, and I love winter scent. I wonder how hardy it is? Not sure it would survive here in Wales. I have got a Viburnum bodnantense, winter flowering honeysuckle and sarcococca though, so I’m not short of perfume.
Hi Louise, Not too sure how hardy it is, but I’ve I just spoken the very nice people at Big Plant Nursery down in West Sussex, who reckon that this plant is really hardy, although strangely not seen in many garden centres or nurseries. They suggest possibly avoiding more exposed areas and it may be a good idea wrap the plant up when still small in harsh weather.
Must say Sarcocoocas have to be up there as one of my all time favourite scents too.
This was really interesting, thanks. Although I recognise the tree from your beautiful pictures, I had no idea what it was called. I shall look it up now to see whether it would suit the rather chalky soil in my area.
Hi Dorris, According to the Big Plant Nursery website, this plant will grow in any soil, but best to avoid waterlogged areas (it is a mediterranean and warm clime plant) and it should be drought tolerant once established. Sounds like it should be fine in your chalky soil.
Oh that looks and sounds a beauty Naomi. Have heard of it by its common name but always assumed for some reason that it was not hardy in the UK. Have never seen it for sale. Did you inherit it?
Hi Anna, I mentioned to Sue (above) that this plant came with the house as there were may Greek Cypriots who moved to this area some years ago. Big Plant Nursery, Architectural Plants (both in W. Sussex), Victoriana Nursery in Kent and The Palm Centre in Richmond in London all supply Eriobotrya japonica. Architectural plants say that it’s hardy in the home counties……
[…] am very pleased to see it bloom so early as Hellebores and snowdrops are yet to flower (although my Eriobotrya is still in […]
[…] November, I was bowled over by the most delicious scent from the blossom on my loquat (Eriobotyra japonica) t… And now, as I gaze out of my back door, I’m further delighted by the sight of so much ripe […]
Can they be in the sun
Hi Michelle, yes, the more sun the better. It’s a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern plant, so only produces fruit with lots of sun and a hot summer.
hii,
how is your loquat fruit tree ? is it still bearing fruit ? and have you actually eaten any of the ripened fruit ?
i have planted 1 tree in a big pot, but over several years.. i think 4 years already.. never see any flower.
And my friend who bought a matured tree from local nursery .. he got an abundant fruit for the 1st year and then never ever again.
We both live in neuss, germany.. which is i think a bit similar to uk weather.. but maybe London is warmer than neuss.
I wonder if there is any hope of getting fruit from it ? or it lack of some PK fertilizer ?
Thanks