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What is the difference between a loquat and a kumquat?

3/12/2013

12 Comments

 
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The Loquat is pictured to the left. It is in the family rosaceae. Other relatives in this family are apples, pears, strawberries, and peaches to name a few. The loquat is a larger tree than a kumquat which is in a completely different family discussed below. The loquat were once described on The Food Network's Chopped as if a mango and an apricot had a baby. I think this is pretty spot on. Some varieties of loquat are more tart like Yehuta while others are mostly sweet. Pros: you can freeze them and cook with them like a peach. Yummy. The tree is pretty low maintenance and is well suited for planting in most of Florida. Fertilize it in lower quantity but same frequency as other fruit bearing trees.

The large and sometimes glossy leaves of the Loquat make it increasingly popular in the landscape- even in medians. You may want to prune your loquat tree or it can exceed 20 feet. I find it to be a beautiful shade tree. We have at least 3 loquats on our property -we enjoy them so much. I think we have hit peak season on ours. Cons: The seed (which is easily removed) contains toxins like an apple seed. So please don't consume it. The peel is very thin and edible. One of my favorite trees for its beauty, production, flavor, and low maintenance.

The kumquat is a citrus relative. The tree is easily maintained under 10 feet even without pruning. I wish I had taken a picture of our nagami kumquat from a distance prior to any picking. It was stunning. The picture shown below is of the upper branches prior to full harvesting. Although they are almost over-ripe right now. The Nagami (oblong) pictured here is the same as our logo. It is the tart variety but is quite sweet this late in the season. Many people try peeling the kumquat and it should be eaten with the peel on or the flavor is going to be tart or bitter even if you are eating the sweeter variety called Meiwa (round). Peak season was  Nov-Jan which is another difference between kumquat and loquat. Kumquats are popular to eat out of hand and people swear by the marmalades. There is a fellow that makes us some- and I am not a marmalade fan- but I must admit its quite tasty. I prefer loquats for out of hand eating because I have a sweet tooth. the kumquat is a beautiful tree in a smaller stature. For those that love citrus and are short on space or want to raise one in a pot- the kumquat is a great choice. Pro: Versatile fruit and one of the most cold hardy when it comes to citrus. Con: you have to like zest (because that is what it tastes like to me. Treat it like a citrus tree and its happy.

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12 Comments
BECoyle
4/30/2014 07:03:12 am

"WOW! This post is SPOT ON....I ENJOYED my first loquat fruit, TODAY! I absolutely LOVE IT...I GOT TO HAVE MORE...I AM ALSO GOING TO TRY TO CONVINCE MY NEICE TO PLANT THE DIVINE TREE AT HER FIRST HOME..." We are Texans, now, and I see PLENTY OF TREES LOADED WITH FRUIT;just feeding ants and birds, I guess. Look out Birds, and others...I will be COMPETITION!

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Hularose
6/26/2014 01:55:00 am

Thankyou for the interesting facts about the loquat tree as often confused with the cumquat. We have a huge healthy tree in the school grounds, loaded with fruit in season and a magnificent specimen. The donator grew it from seed, We are in Wollongong Australia just south of Sydney and on the coast - a true paradise!


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Lynette Christenson
3/31/2015 05:26:09 am

I am not sure whether I have a Kumquat Tree or a Loquat Tree. These cuttings were taken from an individual that was not certain either. They are just a year old and have there first good growth on them this season. I thought we had lost them to the freezes, but all the small starts are healthy. Is there a difference in the leaves that will tell me which I have?

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natacha
10/1/2015 12:20:56 pm

Kumquat has more of an orange peel...loquat has a big black seed in the middle

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Dave
3/27/2019 01:15:25 pm

Loquats are a tree and grow to 25 feet high. Kumquats are bushes.

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amier
4/18/2015 02:02:34 pm

can you please send me a few seeds of loquat and kamquat

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Jacki Landrum
6/12/2017 09:29:56 pm

Thanks for your info, I have a volunteer loquat, not sure of variety, in my back yard. It is almost 30 feet. It hides the neighbors two story home year round. Easy to start also. My husband put in a row of them for privacy. They grow quickly in the California sun and don't object to frost. The fruit is usually devoured by migrating birds, but they planted it so I figure it's only fair to share!! May try a pie, the fruit is almost ready to pic. Thanks again, Lovin Loquats in CA

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Misse flynn
4/4/2018 03:47:40 am

Can liquor b grown in Las cruces, new mexico ? If not, who do I contact to get fruit sent to me? Thanks 😊

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Vincent link
4/27/2019 04:52:52 pm

I love kumquats!

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Luann
8/2/2019 09:12:59 am

Are Loquate fast growing? & how far from the house should the be planted?

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Brooke
6/17/2020 12:28:19 am

I thought that my Loquat tree was a Kumquat! Thank you for helping me see the difference!

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Heeather
5/24/2021 12:51:27 am

Great infamy! Here in Nor Cal i grew up with 2 kumquat bushes and a English walnut tree in our front yard and 2 almond trees in our back yard. I've recently moved back to the same neighborhood i was born & raised in and my neighbor has what i thought was the biggest kumquat tree i'd ever seen in my life. After reading this I realize it is a loquat tree. The thing is a giant! Other neighbors joke that it holds its on ecosystem within it!

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