As Autumn Softens The Light, Medlar Hangs Its Odd, Open-Crowned Fruits Like Little Treasures Waiting For A Frosty Morning.

A Late Harvest With A Proper Sense Of Occasion

Medlar is wonderfully unhurried. The fruits don’t ripen in the usual way — they’re harvested late in autumn and then “bletted”, meaning they soften and sweeten after a little cold and time. It turns fruit growing into a small ritual: pick, store, wait, and then enjoy the rich, apple-and-date flavour when the flesh turns soft and brown. In UK gardens, it’s a lovely way to stretch the season, giving you something to look forward to when apples and pears are long finished and the garden is settling down for winter.

  • A Late Harvest With A Proper Sense Of Occasion
  • Big Blossom And Handsome, Characterful Shape
  • Tough, Hardy, And Happiest Without Fuss

Medlar Trees at a Glance:

Common name: Medlar.

Latin name: Mespilus germanica.

Size in UK gardens: Often 3–5m tall and wide, forming a small tree with a rounded crown; can be kept smaller with light pruning.

Best position: Full sun (or very light shade) in a reasonably sheltered spot for best fruiting.

Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; dislikes prolonged waterlogging.

Flowering time: Late spring to early summer; fruit ripens late autumn (then bletted after picking).

Fragrance: Usually not noticeably scented.

Hardiness: Very hardy in most UK gardens.

Care level: Low to moderate – mostly about good planting, steady watering while young, and light pruning.
Some of our team!

Home-grown, backed by local specialists.

The Simpson’s team raises the majority of our trees here at the nursery. For varieties outside our own production, we work with independent local growers we trust - all chosen for UK climate suitability.

Medlar Tree Care at a Glance:

Planting time: As container-grown trees, medlars can be planted in most months when the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged; spring and autumn are usually easiest.

Watering: Water well in the first 1–2 seasons, especially in dry spells; steady moisture helps establishment and fruiting later on.

Feeding: A spring mulch of compost or well-rotted manure is usually enough; a light balanced feed helps on poorer soils.

Pruning: Minimal – light shaping and removing crossing or congested branches is usually all that’s needed.

Winter: Very hardy; mulch and shelter from the harshest winds help young trees settle in.

Varieties We Usually Stock

Availability is always changing, so please check with us if you have a particular variety in mind.

Mespilus ‘Nottingham’

Mespilus ‘Royal’

A wonderfully old-world medlar with a quirky, storybook presence—gnarled character, gentle blossom, and fruits that feel almost historical. The flavour is unusual and rewarding once bletted: soft, rich, and sweet, often compared to spiced apple purée or date-like richness. Perfect if you want something traditional, conversation-starting, and deeply seasonal.

A medlar with a slightly grander, more “heritage orchard” feel—ornamental in blossom, characterful in branch, and beautifully autumnal in fruit. The flavour, once bletted, is mellow, sweet, and richly fruity, with that distinctive medlar depth that feels like a Victorian pudding. Ideal if you want an old-fashioned fruit with real personality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — medlar is one of the more forgiving “unusual” fruit trees for UK gardens. It’s properly hardy and usually copes well with winter cold, including in Cambridgeshire and other eastern counties. The main thing it asks for is a sunny position so fruit can ripen late in the season, and soil that drains well in winter. Once established, it’s generally reliable and low-fuss, making it a lovely choice if you want something a bit different from the usual apple-or-pear routine without taking on a tricky plant.

Medlars are picked late in autumn, often after the first frosts or when the fruits look fully sized and beginning to soften slightly. They aren’t eaten straight from the tree like apples — they need “bletting”, which is simply letting them soften and sweeten off the tree for a couple of weeks. Stored somewhere cool and airy, the firm fruits turn brown and soft inside, and that’s when they become delicious: rich, sweet, and almost pudding-like. It’s a slow, satisfying process, and it’s exactly what makes medlar feel special.

Usually, yes. In most UK gardens, medlar stays as a small tree rather than becoming enormous, and it responds well to light pruning if you need to keep it within bounds. A mature size of around 3–5 metres is common, though it depends on variety, soil and how you prune. If space is tight, planting in full sun and giving it a single, clear spot to grow — rather than squeezing it into shade — helps it stay healthier and easier to manage. It’s a very good “one tree” choice if you want character as well as fruit.

A single medlar tree will usually crop on its own, because it’s generally self-fertile. That said, having another compatible fruit tree nearby can sometimes improve pollination and yield, simply because more blossom in the area attracts more insects in spring. The bigger factors for a good crop are sun, shelter, and steady moisture while the tree is establishing. Plant it in a warm, bright position, keep the soil healthy with a mulch, and you’ll usually find one tree is plenty to give you blossom and a worthwhile harvest.