Medlar Tree

An ancient fruit tree with attractive spreading form and large white spring blossoms, producing apple-shaped fruits that require bletting after harvest. Pick medlars after the first frost and store them stem-down in a cool place until the flesh softens and turns brown, which develops the rich, date-like flavor. Medlar trees are self-fertile, low-maintenance, and virtually pest-free, making them an excellent choice for heritage orchards. They grow well in any reasonable garden soil and rarely need pruning beyond shaping.

Medlar trees are propagated by grafting named varieties onto quince, hawthorn, or seedling medlar rootstock. Quince rootstock produces a slightly smaller, earlier-bearing tree and is the most common choice. Hawthorn rootstock is used for heavy clay or difficult soils. Purchase grafted trees from specialty fruit nurseries. Seeds require 3 to 4 months of cold stratification to germinate and seedling trees may take 5 to 6 years to bear fruit with variable quality. Budding in late summer onto established rootstock is the preferred grafting technique.

The Season Plate

Your Medlar Tree Year

Composed for Zone 7 · typical seasons · frost passes Apr 2, returns Nov 1

Sow Medlar Tree Mar – Apr, Nov, pick Oct – Nov. Set your climate below and every date on this plate re-times itself.

Sowing window

Mar – Apr, Nov

re-timed to your frost dates

Plant out

after Apr 2

once frost risk has passed

First picking

around Mar 14

≈ 1095 days from sowing · 3 to per plant

Composed for —ColdTemperateMildWarmUse my locationUsed once to set your season · only the zone is kept

Week-by-week Medlar Tree reminders watering, feeding and pruning, timed to your dates

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Frost alerts for your garden a warning before a cold night costs you the crop

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Succession sowing dates so the picking never gaps mid-season

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Medlar trees are deciduous, self-fertile fruit trees that have been cultivated in Europe since ancient times. They grow 15 to 20 feet tall with a graceful, spreading habit and large white flowers in late spring. Plant in full sun to partial shade in any well-drained garden soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Medlars are extremely low-maintenance and adaptable, tolerating clay, sandy, and chalky soils. Space trees 15 to 20 feet apart.

Water newly planted trees regularly through the first growing season, then reduce to occasional deep watering during extended dry spells. Established medlars are moderately drought-tolerant and rarely need supplemental irrigation. Fertilize lightly in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer or topdress with compost. Medlars are light feeders and excessive fertility produces rank vegetative growth at the expense of fruit.

Prune medlar trees in winter to maintain an open, goblet-shaped canopy that shows off the attractive branching structure. Remove crossing branches, water sprouts, and dead wood. The trees naturally develop a picturesque spreading form that requires minimal corrective pruning. Medlars are remarkably pest and disease resistant, making them one of the easiest fruit trees to grow organically. The fruit matures in late October to November and must undergo a process called bletting before eating.

Medlar trees work beautifully in mixed heritage orchards alongside quince, crabapple, and traditional apple and pear varieties. The spreading canopy provides dappled shade for shade-tolerant understory plants like wild strawberries, violets, and primroses. Comfrey planted around the drip line provides nutrient-rich mulch when cut. Spring-blooming bulbs like daffodils and crocus naturalize well beneath medlar trees and provide early-season interest before the canopy leafs out.

The Society Table

Garlic belongs beside it. Walnut Tree doesn't.

Old growers' knowledge, checked against Medlar Tree's real companion table below — test any plant you're growing.

Grows well in the company of · 2

GarlicMarigold

Keep apart · 1

Walnut Tree

Plant Medlar Tree with good neighboursThe planner flags conflicts before they're in the ground

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Medlar trees are remarkably adaptable to soil conditions, thriving in clay, loam, sand, or chalk with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. They prefer moist but well-drained soil and tolerate both acidic and slightly alkaline conditions. Apply a light topdressing of compost or well-rotted manure in late winter. Supplemental fertilization is rarely needed and can actually reduce fruit quality. On very poor soil, a single spring application of balanced organic fertilizer is sufficient.

Ideal Temperature

Hardiness Zone Compatibility

Harvest medlars in late October or November after the first frost, which begins the softening process. Pick fruit when it is hard and fully colored brown, leaving the calyx (open end) intact. The fruit is inedible when freshly picked and must undergo bletting, a controlled decomposition process. Place fruit stem-end down in a cool, dry location and wait 2 to 3 weeks until the flesh turns brown and soft. Properly bletted medlars have a rich, date-like flavor with hints of apple butter.

Storage & Preservation

Unbletted medlars can be stored in a cool place for several weeks while they soften naturally. Once bletted, the fruit should be eaten or processed within a few days. Medlar jelly is the most popular preserved form, with a beautiful amber color and complex tart-sweet flavor. Medlar cheese, similar to quince membrillo, is a traditional English preserve. The fruit can also be made into wine, syrup, or added to apple cider for a distinctive flavor. Medlar butter makes an unusual and delicious spread.

Brown Rot

Disease

Fuzzy brown mold develops on fruit, especially during wet autumn weather. Affected fruit mummifies on the tree or on the ground.

Prevention Improve air circulation through pruning. Remove mummified fruit from the tree and ground before spring. Avoid damaging fruit during harvest.

Fix: Apply copper fungicide in early spring before bloom if brown rot was a problem in previous years. Remove infected fruit promptly to prevent spore spread.

Caterpillars

Pest

Various caterpillar species may feed on leaves in spring and summer, creating holes and skeletonized foliage.

Prevention Encourage bird populations with nesting boxes nearby. Inspect trees in spring for egg masses and remove them.

Fix: Hand-pick caterpillars when numbers are small. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis spray for larger infestations. Most caterpillar damage is cosmetic and does not affect fruit production.

Leaf Blight

Disease

Brown spots on leaves that may merge into larger areas of dead tissue during wet weather. Premature leaf drop in severe cases.

Prevention Maintain good air circulation around the tree. Avoid overhead watering. Clean up fallen leaves in autumn.

Fix: Apply fungicide sprays in spring if blight was severe the previous year. Ensure proper spacing and pruning to promote air flow through the canopy.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

The most common confusion is not understanding the bletting process and discarding perfectly good fruit because it appears rotten. Bletted medlars should be brown and soft but not fermented or moldy. Some gardeners find the appearance of bletted fruit unappetizing, though the flavor is rich and delicious. Limited availability of nursery stock can make purchasing named varieties challenging. Medlars may take 3 to 4 years to begin bearing fruit after planting.

Growing Tips

1. Plant medlar trees in a sheltered, sunny position with well-drained loamy soil for the best fruit production. They tolerate partial shade but yield significantly fewer fruits without at least six hours of direct sunlight.
2. Choose a grafted named variety such as Nottingham, Dutch, or Royal for reliable fruiting rather than growing from seed, which produces variable and often inferior fruit quality.
3. Water young trees regularly during their first two to three growing seasons to establish a strong root system, then reduce irrigation as mature trees are remarkably drought-tolerant.
4. Apply a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring and a potassium-rich feed in early summer to support healthy growth and optimal fruit development without excessive leafy vigor.
5. Prune medlar trees lightly in winter, focusing on removing dead wood, crossing branches, and water sprouts while maintaining the naturally attractive spreading canopy shape.
6. Harvest fruits after the first autumn frost for best results, picking them with the stalk attached and handling gently to avoid bruising that can lead to rot rather than proper bletting.
7. Blet harvested fruits by placing them calyx-end down in a single layer on straw or newspaper in a cool, dry, frost-free location at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius for two to four weeks until soft.
8. Protect young trees from late spring frosts by covering them with horticultural fleece when temperatures threaten to drop below minus 2 degrees Celsius during flowering.
9. Grow medlars on quince rootstock such as Quince A for a semi-dwarfing effect that keeps the tree manageable at 3 to 4 meters, ideal for smaller gardens and easier harvesting.
10. Underplant medlar trees with shade-tolerant companions like comfrey, which acts as a dynamic nutrient accumulator, or plant spring bulbs beneath to make productive use of the space.