Loquat is a long-term planting — a young tree typically takes about four years to bear its first real fruit, and then produces for years. It's hardy across USDA zones 7 through 10. Its fall flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, even though the fruit is the prize. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
7-10
pH Range
4.5-8
Sun
Full Sun
To First Harvest
~4 yr
Score Loquat on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether loquat actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score loquat against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Loquat is
Loquat grows as a perennial and reaches around 20 feet at maturity. It blooms white in fall.
How to grow Loquat
Loquat grows in USDA zones 7 through 10 and takes about four years to begin bearing. Loquat does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs around 3,000 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days, and about 100 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
7-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
48.2°F
plant_species_v5.csv
To First Harvest
~4 years
Loquat; very low-chill subtropical; zone 8+. ~4 yr from container plant.
UFL-IFAS; UC-Fruit
GDD Required
3000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
20 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
100+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
150+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set loquat in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Loquat prefers pH 4.5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Loquat takes about four years to its first meaningful harvest (UFL-IFAS; UC-Fruit). Prune annually while it establishes, and the tree will then crop for years.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — loquat is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Loquat offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Loquat thrives
Loquat is hardy across USDA zones 7 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 7–10·Where Loquat growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Loquat can grow in these states:
See if Loquat will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether loquat actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Loquat in my zone?
Loquat grows in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long until Loquat bears fruit?
Loquat typically takes about four years after planting to bear its first real crop, then produces for years (UFL-IFAS; UC-Fruit). Soil, climate, and rootstock all shift the timeline.
When should you plant Loquat?
Set loquat out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Loquat need?
Loquat needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Loquat need?
Loquat prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Loquat attract pollinators?
Yes — loquat's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Loquat safe for pets?
Loquat is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.