We are regularly asked to recommend fruit trees by our customers who wish to plant a small orchard or clearing. Of course, we love cherries, pears, apples and plums but something a bit more out of the ordinary is usually what excites us here at Dyffryn!

Our current favourite is the Mespilius germanica - Medlar.

Medlars are large deciduous shrubs or small trees. They produce an incredibly dense 'hairy' soft foliage which turns a spectacular red in Autumn.

The five-petalled white flowers are produced amid the abundance of foliage in late Spring. The flowers are subtle but have a beautiful purity and presence.

Medlar fruits are unusual both in appearance and in their ripening habits. The fruit has a hollow appearance and is an orange/ brown colour. They are very hard and inedible until they start to 'blet' (decay). They will rarely reach this stage by themselves on the tree and need to be picked as late as possible in November. They should be left in a box in a cool dry place until they turn a dark reddish brown and become soft and juicy. The fruit can then be eaten raw, although they are also used to make medlar jelly and wine.

Medlars will be happy in any moist, free draining fertile soil. Mespilius germanica is self fertile, so you only need one tree to produce fruit, (but a pair will look good too).

The medlar was a very popular fruit during the Victorian era but its popularity has waned over the years. I think it's a beautiful and interesting tree as well as producing unusual fruit, perfect for those self sufficient types amongst us who enjoy a culinary challenge. I do believe it is time for a resurgence!

Links for medlar recipes!
Medlar Cheese , Medlar Tart

Victoria Hardaker