Sunday, December 7, 2008

Japanese Loquat

Before my Georgia Flower garden became a garden, I planted a lone Japanese Loquat; Eriobotrya Japonica. I believe this was planted in the fall of 2004 but this was prior to my digital camera days so the best "before" picture I could show you is the above being May 2005. The bench and hosta came later in the spring.

My neighbor operates an Air Conditioning and Small Appliance business from his house. I planted this bush type tree to hide his pile of dead appliances. They pile up until he has enough to load onto his trailer and head off to the scrap yard. This was never an issue for us until we cut down 8 trees to make way for the boat shed. Once the trees were down, my eyes saw the ugly. So in went the first thing to hide the ugly. Here is the same bush this past Oct 10, 2008.
It has the most sweet smelling blooms and the scent carries in the Fall air as the Jasmine does in early summer.
The blooms start out in this fuzzy looking stem. Notice the Dew drops.
The flowers seem to pop open over night with tiny white blooms.
The blooms are not so pretty when they begin to open but the smell is wonderful.
On this October morning, the long tailed Skipper.....

Monarch...
Bee...
And this spotted Skipper were all indulging in the sweet juice from the Loquat.
This year the bush had more blooms then ever and really did put on a sweet smelling show for me.
I give this plant an occasional drink of water and also fresh pine straw as mulch each spring. The only negative I can think of is, the leaves are thick as if a magnolia tree so they don't mulch up well in the compost bin. It drops leaves during drought times as you see in the above picture. But this picture was taken the same day as the others so you can see how full and lush green it was for me even though dropping some leaves.
My neighbor has since installed a wooden privacy fence so I no longer see his pile of dead appliances. But I am glad he had that pile where it was located or I might not have planted this JAPANESE LOQUAT, In the Garden...

35 comments:

  1. My parents had a loquat tree when I was a child, and they are great small trees. You are the second blogger to write about this tree in the last month. I think that is a sign for me to get one too, since I have been thinking about one for a while now.

    Jan
    Always Growing

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  2. Another beautiful tree and great shots of your winged visitors. I've never seen a long-tailed skipper...very pretty!

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  3. I've seen this tree but did not know anything about it. Thanks Skeeter, I may consider one for my garden.

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  4. Hi Skeeter, this sounds like a win win, pretty tree plus nice privacy fence from the neighbor! All good. This was a very popular tree in Texas too, nice sized and sweet smelling, a great combo.

    Frances

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  5. It's lovely. Your surrounding are so beautiful. I had no idea that Georgia was so picturesque!

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  6. Hi, Skeeter--I planted a loquat in a large pot in our cat's "garden" (future post)--that is, on the upper deck--to give her some hade in the summer. It's about doubled in size, though it didn't bloom this summer (it's still only about 4' tall)--can't wait for it to get like yours--and I think maybe I'll get some more . . .

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  7. Beautiful pictures! My mother has two in her yard in south Ala.

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  8. Cool! I have never heard of this tree, and alas it's not hardy in my zone, which is a shame because it looks nice! But I have a whole bunch of evergeens planted to hide my neighbor's ramshackle garage, so I feel you!
    ~ Monica

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  9. Does it bear edible fruit?
    Blessings,
    Lorilee

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  10. What a lovely tree Skeeter. I've never heard of it but it has some great qualities. I wonder if it is hardy in my zone 7b garden. What a wonderful backdrop it would make for other perennials.

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  11. I've heard of this tree, but don't know if they are grown much around here, so I don't know that I've ever seen one. I love plants that smell sweet--that alone is worth growing a particular plant!

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  12. For Racquel--It's hardy to zone 7--mine loses leaves in severe cold, and doesn't grow much in the winter, but it's really a cool tree, and smallish. I think you'd really like it--and I picked mine up at Lowe's, I think--

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  13. It is beautiful. I will have to look for it. Encouraging that it grows for Cosmo in Virginia too! What does it smell like? The jasmine? Can't imagine and I hope it is still in bloom when I come to visit. I will be very interested in this tree as I know nothing about it. Great job Skeeter-aka master gardener:)

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  14. I was going to say, but Frances said it first, I have seen these on Texan blogs-glad they grow here.

    And of course-Good morning everyone!!

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  15. I've never grown one, because it is too cold here I'm sure, but I'd love to smell one. I liked how you explained why you planted it where you did.~~Dee

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  16. Cool, Everyone seems to love the Loquat, including me!

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  17. Yes, I agree with everyone else, what a neat little tree and I've never heard of it or seen one being in like, zone 4 or 5. Shame it wouldn't grow here seems like a very worth while tree with the smell and texture.

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  18. I may be that blogger who spoke of this tree that Jan was referring to. Actually, I posted a photo of it to ask you bloggers what it was! And I was gratified, as I always am, for someone to be able to tell me. The bees and butterflies do love this tree. Mine is beside the driveway out back.
    Brenda

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  19. Very pretty indeed and it sounds like s winner for may reasons. Sadly it would not live up north here. Since I had never even heard of it I enjoyed seeing a learning about it.

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  20. It was certainly you I was referring to Brenda. Cool tree.

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  21. Beautiful photos you have taken here, really detailed and eye catching. I've just got to the stage of finishing my garden and I was looking at water features sheffield for some inspiration on that final touch to it.

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  22. Hello Everyone! I am still playing hostess but got a minute to jump on here to say hello and to quickly read the comments. I can’t touch on each of them but you all know I enjoy your wonderful words!

    I am not sure if this plant will have edible fruit as I really know nothing about this plant. I am learning about it as it grows. I saw it at Lowes and the tag read: fast grower, Evergreen, winter blooms and drought tolerant so I went for it. I love this tree and have seen them in Botanical gardens so think I selected a winner!

    Okay, I need to get back to company now.....

    Everyone have a Great Day!

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  23. Looks like you made lemonade. Sometime necessity makes us so creative. Fine job!

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  24. That tree is new to me; how neat that it has scent in the fall! What an end of season treat that must be!

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  25. Pretty tree! I've heard of it, but can't think of one around here. It sure looks like a great one to have in the garden.

    Cameron

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  26. I love your butterfly pictures! I have always wanted to see a long-tailed skipper in person.

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  27. Pretty shrub, it has really nice glossy-green leaves.

    I wish my neighbor(s) would build fences to conceal their junk, that task is left to me I guess.

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  28. Some of the best garden ideas are born from necessity, aren't they? (like hiding the appliances) Anything that's pretty, also smells good and draws in all the pollinators must be a great shrub! Love the long tailed skipper photo ~ that's a new one for me.

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  29. Hi Tina, It is fun to look at the changes in our gardens from one year to the next. I haven't been a regular in that area--and my garden has changed dramatically since I first moved to my home in 1996. I've not heard of the bush/tree you describe here, but it sounds and looks interesting. To me, from a distance, it resembles a rhododendrum, but it seems it doesn't require special conditions (like the acidic soil needed for the rho's). And how I love to see butterfly photos! Jan

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  30. Hello everyone on this beautiful Monday morning, okay noon time as I am running a bit behind again. lol

    I am sorry for not commenting individually on this topic but had company for the weekend and was busy relaxing and enjoying all my recent decorating. It looks as though a lot of you have never seen the long tailed skipper before. I discovered them this past year after taking a closer look at the activity in the garden with a blog posting on butterflies. I saw them up until this one in Oct. in the garden. I cant wait to see them again next year...

    Now I am headed outside to play as it is time to spread some bales of pine straw mulch.

    This is a busy time of year for me...

    Everyone have a good day!

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  31. Enjoyed learning about this specimen. Great photos, recording the bloom sequence and visitors. ~ Deb

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  32. Hi Skeeter - you've posted photos of one of my favorites! Isn't the fragrance wonderful?

    I don't know how it will grow for you, but in Austin our loquats get to be quite nice-sized trees in the landscape. Mine started out as a 10" seedling from a friend in 2000 and is now over 12-feet tall, helping give some privacy to the patio.
    In some parts of town people get fruit but late freezes haven't been kind to my 'orchard'.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  33. Gardenauthor, I find it fun to capture the visitors to a plant! I have learned a lot by observing them too....

    Annie, The smell of this loquat is so wonderful to the nose in the fall! The tiny blooms are not much to the eye but the smell more then makes up for lack of beauty. I am not sure how tall this one will get but it seems to grow really well where it is located even with us having a drought for the past three years. I am thinking if I were to water it more, then it may grow faster but it seems to do okay with nature as its keeper so I will refrain from giving it too much attention. Some times it is best to let nature take its course. Ah, so it may have some type of fruit for me to experience? Hum, this will be interesting....

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  34. I liked the pictures you posted. Have you ever seen a snowberry clearwing moth? We see them all the time around Louisville. They look like hummingbirds that breeded with bees. But they're a MOTH!

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  35. Hey Liz, Congrats on the new house, upcoming nuptials and all else going on in your life!

    We do have a Clearwing Moth but not sure which one. I recently found out there are different types! They do resemble the Hummers and stay busy on the butterfly bushes. They are good pollinators. Looks like you have lots of land for some pretty plants and flowers in the future…

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