A study on the horticultural behaviour of 10 loquat cultivars was carried out in the Caserta area (Italy), by the Istituto Sperimentale per la Frutticoltura. The trees, grafted on virus-free clonal quince 'BA 29', were planted in 1991 at 4 x 2 m. During the 1996-2000 period tree height, canopy, volume, vigour, production, fruit weight and quality data were recorded, and the overall productive efficiency was calculated. Nespolone di Trabia followed by Nespolone di Ficarazzi (Italian cultivars) and Algerie followed by Tanaka (foreign cultivars) resulted the most productive ones. The highest fruit weight was recorded in Nespolone di Ficarazzi followed by Nespolone di Trabi (Italian cultivars) and in Peluche followed by Algerie (foreign ones). Magdal was the earliest cultivar to ripen, the Tanaka was the latest. Nespolone di Ficarazzi and Nespolone di Trabia, among the Italian cultivars and Algerie among the foreign ones showed the best productive and qualitative characteristics.