How to grow Medlar
Updated October 2026
Medlar is an old-fashioned, easy-care small fruit tree with large white spring flowers and good fall color. Its small brown fruits are picked hard and bitter in fall, then stored for a few weeks until they soften, or blet, into sweet, aromatic flesh. It suits cool-summer and temperate gardens, and one tree is enough.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Medlar in the US
Where to plant
Medlars grow best in deep, fertile, well-drained soil, though they manage in most soils except very chalky or waterlogged ones. They prefer full sun but still crop in part shade. Leaves and flowers are easily damaged by strong winds and late frosts, so choose a warm, sheltered spot, and give the broad canopy at least 16 feet of space.
The fruit needs cool falls and some winter chill to ripen and blet, which is why medlar suits temperate regions rather than the hot South.
- The Pacific Northwest: the mild maritime climate suits medlar well.
- The Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic and Southern Plains: plant bare-root trees in late winter or fall; shelter them from hot summer winds.
- The Northeast, Midwest and Mountain West: hardy to about zone 5; give it a sheltered spot in colder areas, and regular summer water in the West.
- Northern California: plant bare root in winter, with some afternoon shade in hot valley towns.
- Florida, the Gulf South, Texas, the desert, Hawaii, the Northern Plains and Alaska are too hot, too warm or too cold for medlar.
Choosing a variety
Most medlars are sold grafted onto quince or hawthorn roots, which keep trees to about 13 to 20 feet. The RHS recommends 'Iranian' for heavy crops of early, well-flavored fruit and 'Nottingham' for prolific crops of small, tasty fruit on a fairly compact tree. Medlars are uncommon in garden centers, so look to specialist fruit nurseries.
How to plant
- Plant while dormant, from late fall to early spring. Soak bare-root trees for half an hour first.
- Plant in a warm, sheltered spot. On poor soil, mix some compost into the backfill.
- Clear grass from a circle about 3 feet across so roots do not compete, and stake the young tree.
- Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep in late winter or early spring, leaving a gap around the trunk.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly in dry spells during the first growing season, and during long droughts for the next couple of years. Lack of water can make young fruit drop. Established trees in suitable soil rarely need watering.
Trees in regularly mulched soil usually need no extra feeding. If crops are poor or leaves show deficiency, apply a general fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning and care through the year
- Prune in winter while dormant. Train young trees to an open, goblet-shaped canopy, much as for apples and pears.
- On established trees, just remove congested, dead or damaged shoots and shorten drooping branches. Medlars fruit at the tips of short side shoots, so do not cut those off.
- Remove any suckers from below the graft.
Harvesting
Pick the fruit in late fall, after the first frosts, when the stalks come away easily. It will still be hard and bitter.
To blet, lay the fruit stalk up on trays, not touching, in a cool, dark, frost-free, airy place. After two or three weeks it turns dark brown, soft and slightly wrinkled. This is ripening, not rotting. Scoop out the sweet flesh, discarding the skin and large seeds, to eat fresh or make medlar jelly.
Propagation and saving seed
Named varieties are grafted onto quince or hawthorn. Medlars can be grown from seed, but germination and growth are slow and the fruit varies.
Companion planting
Medlar is a small, ornamental tree that fits into a mixed border or home orchard. Keep grass away from its base while it establishes.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to medlar.
- Lawn and weeds Grass around the base competes with young tree roots for water and nutrients.
Pests and diseases
Medlars are generally healthy and easy to grow. Poor crops are usually caused by late frost or storms at blossom time.
Pests to watch for
- Birds Birds may peck the fruit while it hangs on the tree in fall.
Diseases to watch for
- Brown rot Brown, spreading rot on fruit.
- Powdery mildew White, dusty coating on leaves and shoots.
- Leaf spot Quince leaf blight causes heavy leaf spotting and early leaf drop in wet seasons.
Common questions
What does bletting mean?
Bletting is the softening of medlar fruit after picking. Over two or three weeks in a cool, dark place, starches turn to sugars and the hard, bitter fruit becomes soft, brown and sweet. It looks rotten but is actually ripe.
Do I need two medlar trees?
No. Medlars are self-pollinating, so one tree crops well on its own.
When do I pick medlars?
In late fall, after the first frosts, when the stalk comes away easily. The fruit is still hard and must be bletted before eating.
What do medlars taste like?
Bletted medlar flesh is soft, sweet, juicy and aromatic. It is traditionally made into an amber jelly, used in desserts, or eaten with cheese.
Can I grow medlar in the South?
Usually not. Medlar needs cool falls and winter chill to ripen and blet, so Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas and the desert are too warm.
Sources we checked: RHS: How to grow medlars.
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