Medlar.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Media

Tipo de planta

Deciduous fruit tree

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 7 a 14 días

Tamaño adulto

15 to 20 feet

Ritmo de crecimiento

Lento

Rusticidad

USDA 5 a 8

Floración

Late spring

Cuidados

Plant your medlar in a sunny spot with well draining soil. Watch for signs of fire blight or leaf spot, and prune during the dormant season to maintain an open canopy. Make sure to harvest the fruit after the first frost, then store it in a cool place until it softens.

Riego

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during the first few years of growth.

Abonado

Apply a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring before new growth begins.

Poda

Prune during the winter dormancy to remove dead wood and improve airflow.

Trasplante

If grown in a container, move to a larger pot every few years to accommodate root growth.

Suelo

Loamy, well drained soil

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatura

-25 a 35°C

Humedad

40 a 70%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Moderada

Longevidad

Perennial, typically 30 to 50 years.

Fragancia

Suave

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which can release cyanide if crushed and consumed in large quantities.

Niños

The seeds should not be ingested, so keep an eye on small children when they are eating the fruit.

Alérgenos por contacto

The leaves and stems have no notable irritants.

Alérgenos en el aire

The pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilidad

The fruit must be bletted, or softened by frost, before it is safe and palatable to eat.

Cómo identificarla

• Large, dark green, lance shaped leaves
• Showy white or pinkish spring flowers
• Distinctive fruit with persistent calyx lobes
• Spreading, often crooked, woody branches

Altura

3 a 6m

Anchura

3 a 6m

Hojas

green, deciduous

Flores

white, 3 a 5cm

Frutos

brown, Late autumn

Problemas frecuentes

• Fire blight — A bacterial infection that causes branches to look scorched.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

grafting, seed

Cuándo plantar

spring, autumn

Cuidados en invierno

The tree is fully hardy and requires no special winter protection once established.

En maceta

It can be grown in a very large container, but it prefers being in the ground for long-term health.

Planting aromatic herbs around the base can help mask the scent of the tree from certain pests.

Buenas compañeras

• Lavanda inglesa — It attracts pollinators that help the medlar set fruit.
• Cebollino — They help deter pests from the base of the tree.

Mantenla lejos de

• Manzano de flor — They share similar pest and disease pressures.

Especies parecidas

• Membrillo — It is a close relative with similar fruit usage.

Ciencia

Familia

Rosaceae

Género

Mespilus

Orden

Rosales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe.

Conservación

Not of conservation concern.

It grows in open woodlands and hedgerows where it benefits from full sun and well-drained soil.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source

Polinizadores

abejas

Usos

ornamental tree, culinary fruit, jams and jellies

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

What is bletting?

It is the process of letting the fruit sit until it turns brown and soft, which breaks down tannins and starches.

Can I eat the fruit straight from the tree?

No, it is extremely hard and astringent until it has been bletted.

De dónde viene el nombre

The name Mespilus is the ancient Greek name for the plant, while germanica is a misnomer as it is not native to Germany.

Bueno saberlo

• Medlar trees were very popular in medieval gardens.
• The fruit has a unique, spicy, apple-sauce flavor once bletted.
• Shakespeare mentions the medlar in several of his plays.
• The tree often has a beautiful, twisted growth habit as it ages.