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.

Plant guide

Medlar.

Mespilus germanica

Pronounced MESS-pih-lus jer-MAN-ih-kuh

Also known as Medlar, common medlar

The medlar is a charming, ancient fruit tree that produces unique, rustic fruit. It has a beautiful, spreading habit that looks great in a home orchard. You'll need to let the fruit blet, or soften, after harvest before it's ready to eat.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Deciduous fruit tree
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 15 to 20 feet
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 5 to 8
Bloom time: Late spring

Care

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.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during the first few years of growth.
Feeding: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring before new growth begins.
Pruning: Prune during the winter dormancy to remove dead wood and improve airflow.
Repotting: If grown in a container, move to a larger pot every few years to accommodate root growth.
Soil: Loamy, well drained soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -25 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 30 to 50 years.
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Stunted growth during the spring season.

Safety

People: The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which can release cyanide if crushed and consumed in large quantities.
Children: The seeds should not be ingested, so keep an eye on small children when they are eating the fruit.
Contact allergens: The leaves and stems have no notable irritants.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.
Edibility: The fruit must be bletted, or softened by frost, before it is safe and palatable to eat.

How to identify it

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

Height: 3 to 6m
Spread: 3 to 6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 3 to 5cm
Fruit: brown, Late autumn

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Fire BlightCommon
CankerUncommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
Powdery MildewUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Scale InsectsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: grafting, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The tree is fully hardy and requires no special winter protection once established.
In containers: It can be grown in a very large container, but it prefers being in the ground for long-term health.

Grafting

1. Select a healthy rootstock like hawthorn.
2. Use a whip and tongue graft in late winter.
3. Secure the graft with tape and wax.

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

Grows well with

Lavender · It attracts pollinators that help the medlar set fruit.
Chives · They help deter pests from the base of the tree.

Keep away from

Apple · They share similar pest and disease pressures.

Similar species

Quince · It is a close relative with similar fruit usage.

Science

Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Mespilus
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe.
Conservation: Not of conservation concern.

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

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: ornamental tree, culinary fruit, jams and jellies

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

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.

Where the name comes from

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

Good to know

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.

Keep your medlar growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.