I planted one in my parents' yard many years ago. Over the past 20 years,
it has produced all kinds of beautiful, very edible fruit. Apparently the
birds and squirrels like it, because the seeds have been scattered to other
parts of the yard, and these plants are producing as well. As long as they
look happy in the shade, let them be. Ours are in partial shade and two of
them are now over 12 feet tall.


"cat daddy" wrote in message
...

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
...
I'm wildscaping my San Antonio/Hill Country backyard with native,
critter-friendly plants. A neighbor's loquat has escaped and
volunteered, and is now about two feet tall. I'm wondering:
1) What Texas wildlife will eat loquat: sqirrels, possum and/or
racoon?
2) I hear the bees love loquat, but do the butterflies?
3) These are growing in the shade: do they need to be in the sun to
flower and fruit?
Many thanks,
Bill

My loquat has never been bothered by any furry four-leggers. It tends
to
bloom when the butterflies aren't around (like December), but the bees
like
the blossoms. It grows in full sun and the volunteers in the understory
don't do well at all.
Only once in ten years has it produced fruit, fleshy enough to bother
eating. Hope this helps.