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medlar

Member profile details

PLANT PROFILE SHEET PDF

http://leafnetworkaz.org:80/resources/PLANT%20PROFILES/Medlar_profile.pdf

IDENTIFICATION

Common Name

medlar

Photo #1

Scientific Name

Mespilus germanica L.

Family

Rosaceae

Species Description

Small, wide-spreading and flat-topped tree. Wild varieties may have thorns. Leaves elongated to oblong, serrated or entire, finely hairy underneath. Leaves turn russet to orange-red in fall. Trees may be very long-lived (300+ years). Flowers large, white to pink produced singly in May and June. Fruit round to oblate, brown, must be ripened and bletted to produce soft flesh. Fruit contain five, large, stone-like seeds.

NATURAL / CULTURAL HISTORY

AZ Native or Introduced

Introduced to Arizona

Natural Range

Native to Europe, though thought to have originated in the Caucuses of Asia Minor.

Natural Habitat

Wide range of temperate climate habitats, edge of woodlands.

Cultural-Historic Notes

The Assyrians cultivated medlar trees and introduced them to Greece. Medlar has been cultivated as an ornamental since Medieval times. A very minor fruit crop, now cultivated to a limited extent in eastern and southeastern Europe and Central Asia, mostly in home gardens.

GROWTH FORM & RATE

Growth Form

Tree
Shrub

Tree or Understory

Tree

Other Growth Characteristics

Seasonally Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Canopy Diameter

10-20 feet

Tree Height

10-20 feet

Lifespan

50-300+ years

Years to Bearing, if nursery tree is 1-2 years old; grafted

3-5 years

Chill Hours

800+ hours

Freeze Tolerance

Trees are susceptible to frost damage in areas with severe winters.

Site, Micro-Climate, and Growing Considerations

Medlars prefer warm, sheltered, sunny locations but can be grown in partial shade. Leaves and flowers are easily damaged by strong winds.

Appropriate Arizona Elevation Categories

HIGH MOUNTAIN: Flagstaff - USDA Zone 6b (-5ºF-0ºF)
HIGH PLATEAU, MOUNTAIN: Prescott, Tuba City, Winslow, Page - USDA Zones 7a-7b (0ºF-10ºF)
HIGH DESERT: Sierra Vista, Kingman, Globe, Wilcox - USDA Zones 8a-8b (10-20ºF)

USDA Interactive Plant Zone Map for Arizona

USDA Interactive Plant Zone Map for Arizona

WATER

Relative Plant Water Use

Medium: 20-35 inches / year

Post-Establishment Irrigation Needs

1 X Month in Growing Season

Notes on Species-Specific Water Needs

Medlars may be drought resistant, depending on the rootstock.

CARE

Pollination

Insect pollinated, self pollinated.

Soils

Medlars grow well in a wide range of soil types except for poorly drained or excessively dry. Rootstock choice can influence soil tolerance.

Propagation

Propagate medlars by grafting or budding onto rootstock. Seeds are rarely planted because they are slow to germinate and grow. Summer softwood cuttings can be rooted using rooting hormone and top misting. Medlars can be grafted onto other medlars as rootstock, but are more commonly grafted onto quince, hawthorn, or pear. Pears tend to produce larger trees than quince or hawthorn rootstocks. Hawthorn rootstocks increase drought tolerance of medlars, while quince rootstocks are better suited for moist soils.

Pest & Disease Control

Medlars are usually disease-free, but may suffer fire blight and powdery mildew.

Pruning Notes

Prune during the dormant season to remove dead and overlapping branches and to increase light penetration into the canopy; medlars may be trained as bushes or small trees.

HARVEST & PROCESSING

Edible Parts

Medlar fruits need a very long growing season to mature and are harvested in October-November while fruits are still hard, and then allowed to soften. Fruits are traditionally bletted before being eaten. Bletting is an over-ripening that breaks down tanins and acids, softens the flesh, decreases astringency, and increases sugars. Mature fruit will blet and be ready to eat 2-4 weeks after harvest. The fruit should be stored on straw. The fruits are traditionally eaten by sucking or spooning out the over-ripe pulp and leaving skin and seeds behind. They may also be baked whole or stewed with butter, roasted, or processed into jellies, preserves and syrups.

Harvest Months

October
November

Harvest and Processing Guide

Harvest and Processing Guide

LEAF is under the fiduciary stewardship of the Arizona Community Tree Council, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

PO Box 65122, Phoenix, Arizona 85082-5122

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

This website and other LEAF Network products shown here was prepared under the Diverse Urban Forest grant, WCG 14-501, administered by the Arizona Community Tree Council. Funds for this project were provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program administered through Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management – Urban and Community Forestry Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. In accordance with Federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability (Not all prohibited basis applies to all programs). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.