fig or loquat?

Hi all -- I'm a gardener new to coastal SE NC and I want to plant a tree in my front yard for shade that will be somewhat "tropical." I'm thinking of either a fig or loquat and would love some advice on those choices or others. The site is rather sunny and dry and like everyone else I'm looking for a pretty fast grower. thanks for your help.

I have both figs and loquat.My growing conditions here on the Grand Strand are similar to yours in South Port.

Both trees are pretty fast growers.Do you like the fruit of the loquat? I love it but many people don't eat them.If you want a tropical look I would go with the loquat but then again figs are wonderful fruit.Another fruit tree that grows very well in our area is the pomegranate.It also has very nice flowers.

Nancy

Howdy Kaync...and a hearty WELCOME TO DG!

I have several fig trees and love them! (The figs AND the trees!) Wish I could grow a loquat and get it to fruit here though. I have a loquat tree but it never begats, darn it!

I guess if I were you I'd have to grow whichever one you thought you'd eat the most of.

Remember though that one day your fig tree/bush may produce so many figs you can't keep up with picking them; then they'll fall of and will be magnets for wasps. Keeping that in mind you might not want to plant a fig nearby where you sit and relax.

Again, Welcome! See you around the site!

Shoe.

Thanks to both of you -- useful advice. I think I'll plant the loquat in the front yard where I'm looking for something more ornamental and the fig in the backyard. I'll check out pomegranates too.

One thing with pomegranates is they can be very messy. They stain everything so dogs and kids can end up red. LOL.