The loquat is also called Japanese plum, Japanese medlar, and rush orange. It will do well wherever lemons grow. Flowering occurs from October to February, sometimes in up to three flushes of blooms in a season. Blossoms in the northern part of Florida and similar regions seldom bear fruit because of cold injury.
Bees visit the blossoms freely for nectar and pollen.
A copious quantity of nectar may collect in the open cavity around the ovary, below the base of the anthers. There are 10 to 50 small fragrant white flowers in a panicle, only about 12 percent of which develop into fruit. Thinning of fruit may be necessary if the set is too heavy, but usually the set is too light for economic production. The pollination requirements seem to vary with cultivars of loquat, but all are benefited by, and some require, cross-pollination. High temperatures seem to be detrimental to fruit set.