Big Jim Loquat Tree

Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim'

$179⁹⁹

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Big Jim Loquat Tree highlights at a glance!

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Eriobotrya japonica 'Big Jim'
Growing Zones

9, 10, 7, 11, 8
Mature Height

15 - 20 feet
Mature Spread

15 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Moisture

Low Once Established
Soil

Widely Adaptable
Growth Rate

Medium
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Pruning Time

After Fruiting
Bloom Period

Early Spring, Late Spring, Winter
Harvest Time

Early Season

Growing Zones 8-11

Find Your Growing Zone!

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!