Dwarf Loquat ‘Premier' (Eriobotrya japonica)

Also known as Florida Plum, this cultivar is a smaller version of the standard tree and with is diminutive size, it’s perfect for limited space and container culture. The fruit is about half the size of the regular loquat and when ripe it’s pleasantly sweet. In CT, Premier Loquat flowers in late fall to winter with fruit ripening in spring and summer. It can be a heavy bearer and since these are grafted plants, fruiting often begins within a year. When grown in a container, it can take cool temperatures (down to 33ºF) during the winter months and be grown in moderate light. In areas where winter temperatures don’t go below the high teens, it is hardy outdoors and the tree will stay small for many years.