Medlar.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Moyenne

Type de plante

Deciduous fruit tree

Lumière

Full sun

Lumière en intérieur

Soleil direct

Arrosage

Tous les 7 à 14 jours

Taille adulte

15 to 20 feet

Croissance

Lente

Rusticité

USDA 5 à 8

Floraison

Late spring

Entretien

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.

Arrosage

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

Engrais

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

Taille

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

Rempotage

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

Sol

Loamy, well drained soil

pH du sol

6.0 to 7.5

Température

-25 à 35°C

Humidité

40 à 70%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Moyenne

Durée de vie

Perennial, typically 30 to 50 years.

Parfum

Léger

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Moyenne

Sécurité

Humains

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

Enfants

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

Allergènes de contact

The leaves and stems have no notable irritants.

Allergènes aéroportés

The pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilité

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

Comment l'identifier

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

Hauteur

3 à 6m

Envergure

3 à 6m

Feuilles

green, deciduous

Fleurs

white, 3 à 5cm

Fruits

brown, Late autumn

Problèmes courants

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

La cultiver

Multiplication

grafting, seed

Quand planter

spring, autumn

Hivernage

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

En pot

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.

Bonnes associations

• Lavande d'Angleterre — It attracts pollinators that help the medlar set fruit.
• Ciboulette — They help deter pests from the base of the tree.

À éloigner de

• Pommier d'ornement — They share similar pest and disease pressures.

Espèces similaires

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

Science

Famille

Rosaceae

Genre

Mespilus

Ordre

Rosales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe.

Préservation

Not of conservation concern.

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

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles

Utilisations

ornamental tree, culinary fruit, jams and jellies

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

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.

D'où vient le nom

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

Bon à savoir

• 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.