Eriobotrya deflexa

The Bronze Loquat is a striking evergreen shrub native to southern China and Taiwan. A close relative of the common loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), the Bronze Loquat has edible fruit and is incredibly ornamental. New foliage emerges a coppery-red color and points upwards in bunches, giving the tree an exotic and tropical appearance that can light up the garden. Mature leaves are large and glossy with serrated edges. Large sprays of white flowers in spring are popular with bees and lead to one-inch diameter, orange, edible fruit in autumn.

Bronze Loquat grows up to twenty feet high and are naturally multi-trunked, but can be trained as a standard. Trees form chalky-white trunks with age. Plants prefer full or part sun, are adaptable to different soil types, and are drought tolerant once established.

Cold hardy to USDA zone 8a and above, or to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.