Plant identification

Q What’s this tree grown from a large pip about 30 years ago?

A Eriobotrya japonica (loquat) is a handsome evergreen native to China and Japan, introduced to the UK in 1787. It’s commonly grown in the Mediterranean, and is hardy in milder parts of the country. However, because it tends to flower in late autumn, the fruit often fail because it’s too cold. Plant them in a sheltered place, where the fruit can develop over winter to ripen the following spring. It’s related to our native hawthorn and the fruit are similar in structure, but much larger and juicier.