Eriobotrya japonica / Nespolo del Giappone

Origin: Japan, China

Botanical characteristics: It is a large evergreen shrub or small tree with globular crown. Leaves are lanceolate-elliptic, serrated, leathery, up to 30cm long. They are dark green and shiny above and rusty beneath. It produce an autumn-winter bloom of small white flowers that consist of 5 petals collected in fragrant pyramidal panicles. In spring it has edible ovoid yellow-orange fruits

Agronomic and environmental characteristics: It can be found in fertile and well-drained soils, but it adapts to any soil as long as it is not too calcareous. It is resistant to mild frost. It is grown in mild climates and placed in full sunlight, possibly sheltered by a wall.

Use: It is cultivated for its fruits and as ornamental plant. It is used in gardens as a single plant or in flowerbeds assembled with low shrubs, also in mixed hedges. It is suitable for small gardens and planters.