Fruit or Nut

Hi have recently moved to greece and have discovered this tree in the garden.
I have spent ages trying to identify it using the web and have had no luck.
I am a complete novice and know nothing about this tree.
Please could somebody identify it for me.
thank you

 

It is Eriobotrya japonica (Loquat) a very popular fruiting tree that is native to China, was grown for centuries and first identified in Japan (hence 'japonica') and widely adopted in the Mediterranean, especially the Greek islands. In Cyprus you see them in almost every back garden and appear to be one of the commonest of fruit trees.

Related to the Hawthorn and Medlar, it produces large clusters of fragrant white flowers in autumn, followed by rather delicious fruits that ripen in spring and early summer. They turn bright yellow-orange when ready and have a very soft texture. It's difficult to describe the flavour, but sweet, refreshingly apple-like with undertones of peach come to mind. They are eaten whole and have one or two large 'pips' in the centre. They do not keep very well and should be eaten as soon as ripe. They can be preserved in syrup, but do not freeze well.

Loquats are very easy to grow, requiring only selective pruning of wayward shoots and branches in spring/early summer. They don't appear to need any special feeding and happily grow in thin, impoverished soils. The best I ever tasted were from a small tree growing in rubble and dust in the yard of a small bistro at Kato Pafos. It was hardly ever watered and never given any fertiliser. The owner is extremely proud of the fruits when they are in season and are offered to all customers. I envy you your plant; Loquats grow quite well in the UK, but rarely fruit freely and do not have the flavour of those grown in more southerly climates.

 

thank you very much for the information. As yet the fruits are still green. Mother in law tasted one and said it was like cooking apple - fits in with your description, bearing in mind they are not yet ripe.
Will confirm later in season if colour changes.

 

Always thought of giving one a go, have seen a couple around here, but never any fruit.
Its a nice looking plant though, your lucky pefkipaul, it should do well out there.

 

Hello pefkipaul and welcome to GC.

I certainly agree with DaveP as to what your mystery tree is. Here we call it the Nespeira tree from which ones gets Nesperas ... a postively disgusting fruit in our opinion. Ours are just about "past their sell by date". They ripen very quickly and "rot" on the tree even quicker. They taste rather like an apricot but the skin is not really edible.

They do not sell them in the supermarkets here as they rot so quickly but you can buy them in the local markets ... that is, if you don't have one yourself and like such.

The locals just eat them off the tree or make them into jams. Personally, I would let the birds eat them as they are very fond of them.

They are large trees ... in my pictures below, my almond tree is give or take 25 foot tall and you can see the Loquats across the lane. The two following photographs were taken today of the ghastly fruit.







Enjoy the forum!

 

LoL Hi again, we haven't chatted for ages. All I want et the moment is clarification. Are we to take it that you are not very fond of these fruit? :D

 

Hello, John ... yes, long time no speak ...

Would YOU eat THAT ?????

Completely off thread ... your Sis's cotoneasters are thriving, all four ... will send you a pic in due course.