Big Jim Loquat Tree

Availability: Out of stock
SKU
10002487

Self-fruiting and resilient, the Big Jim Loquat Tree (Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim') is an amazing fruit, and lucky you - the Big Jim is the best of the best! It’s one of the tastiest and fleshiest Loquat varieties you will find!

Who's Big Jim? Jim Neitzel was a visionary fruit grower and a founding board member of the California Rare Fruit Growers Organization. There's a reason he named this variety after himself - it's astounding! As a proponent of people growing their own fruits and veggies, Jim Neitzel developed many great sub-tropical varieties for backyard gardens!

Its fruit grows up to 2.5 inches in clusters of up to twelve, plenty for you and your neighbors! These yellow-orange fruits taste like citrus-flavored Apricots, are easy to peel with a deep yellow flesh and few brown seeds.

Planting and Application:

Loquat fruit in the early spring, ripening typically right after most citrus fruit is done, the Loquats offer a perfect bridge between the winter citrus and the wonderful summer fruits.

Loquat leaves are lush, deep-green and lance-shaped, and these evergreens look attractive throughout the year. They make great background shrubs or showy specimen plants!

  • Yellow-orange skin & easy to peel - or eat the skin for a sweet & chewy treat!
  • Yellow flesh, tart citrus-apricot flavor & few seeds
  • Juice keeps for up to 2 weeks in the fridge!
  • Great privacy hedge or specimen ornamental
  • If space is a concern, Big Jim is also very easy to Espalier.

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Big Jim Loquats are sub-tropical, thriving in full sun, perfect for patios or decks. They do well in a wide variety of soil types and are drought-resistant once established. Unlike many other sub-tropicals, Big Jim is cold hardy down to 12 degrees!

In Zones 7-8, be prepared to cover your tree with a frost blanket when extended periods of cold are predicted.

  • Low water needs once established & full sun
  • It can easily be pruned and kept 8 feet high or as a multi-trunked tree or shrub-form
  • Roots are not invasive and readily grow in a container or planter
  • Bears fruit at about 3-4 years of age
  • Tough plants once established, requiring little care

Loquat fruit has many health benefits and is high in Vitamins A and C. Get ready to sink your teeth into the tastiest, largest Loquat, and check out our other Loquat tree varieties for sale now at NatureHills.com today!

Buying Options for Plants

Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.

Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!

Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.

  • Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc.
  • Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc.

Nature Hills Container Size by Volume

Keep in mind, specific varieties and different growing conditions can affect the rate at which plants grow. Variations in size may occur.

Young Plants to 18 Months
Size Volume
2"x2"x3" Ranges from .18 to .21 dry quarts / .198 to .23 dry liters in volume
4.5" Container Equal to .65 dry quart / .72 dry liter in volume
Sprinter Pot Equal to .63 dry quart / .69 dry liter in volume
4" Container Ranges from .31 to .87 / .35 to .96 dry liter in volume
6" Container Equal to 1.4 dry quarts / 1.59 dry liters in volume
1 Quart Equal to 1 dry quart / 1.1 dry liter in volume
5.5" Container Equal to 1.89 of a dry quart / 2.08 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x5" Ranges from .8 to 1.1 dry quarts / .88 to 1.2 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x6" Ranges from 1.0 to 1.3 dry quarts / 1.1 to 1.41 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x9" Ranges from 1.1 to 2.1 dry quarts / 1.2 to 2.3 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x10" Ranges from 1.7 to 2.3 dry quart / 1.87 to 2.53 dry liters in volume
Plants 18 Months - 2.5 Years Old
Size Volume
2 Quart Equal to 2 dry quarts / 2.2 dry liters in volume
#1 Container Ranges from 2.26 to 3.73 dry quarts / 2.49 to 4.11 dry liters in volume
5"x5"x12" Equal to 3.5 to 4.3 dry quarts / 3.85 to 4.74 dry liters in volume
Plants 2 - 4 Years Old
Size Volume
#2 Container Ranges from 1.19 to 1.76 dry gallons / 5.24 to 7.75 dry liters in volume
#3 Container Ranges from 2.32 to 2.76 dry gallons / 10.22 to 12.16 dry liters in volume
Plants 3 - 5 Years Old
Size Volume
#5 Container Ranges from 2.92 to 4.62 dry gallons / 12.86 to 20.35 dry liters in volume
#6 Container Ranges from 5.25 to 6.01 dry gallons / 23.12 to 26.42 dry liters in volume
#7 Container Ranges from 5.98 to 6.08 dry gallons / 26.34 to 26.78 dry liters in volume

About Plant Sentry™

Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.

This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

Click Here to learn more

Plant Sentry

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.
Color Zone Times
3 Spring 2019
4 Now
5 Now
6 Now
7 Now
8 Now
9 Now
10 Now
11 Now

Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From To S&H
0 - 19.99 24.99
20 - 49.99 29.99
50 - 69.99 34.99
70 - 99.99 39.99
100 - 129.99 44.99
130 - 149.99 48.99
150 - 150+ Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

PLANT HIGHLIGHTS

Big Jim Loquat Tree Is Suited to Grow in Zones 8-11
Growing Zones 8-11
More Information
Brand Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim'
Type Broad-Leaved Evergreen
Mature Height 15 - 20 feet
Mature Spread 15 feet
Sun Exposure Full Sun
Soil Widely Adaptable
Moisture Low Once Established
Growth Rate Medium
Flower Color Sub Tropical
Foliage Sub Tropical
Foliage Color Dark Green
Harvest Time Early Season
Pollinator Friendly Yes
Fruiting Time March - June
Pruning Time After Fruiting