Description
- MEDLAR Mespilus Germanica 5 SEEDS
- The common Medlar (Mespilus germanica) is a slow growing, large deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 26 feet (8 m) tall. The leaves are dark green and 2 to 6 inches (6 to 15 cm) long and 1 to 1.5 inches (3 to 4 cm) wide.
- The leaves turn a spectacular red in the fall, and the plant has beautiful white flowers in late spring. The fruit is a pome, and is about 1 inch (3 cm) in diameter, with wide-spreading persistent sepals giving a âhollowâ appearance to the fruit.
- Medlars are eaten very much the same way as persimmons. Initially the fruit are very hard and acidic, but they become edible after being softened (âblettedâ) by frost, or naturally in storage given sufficient time. Once softening begins, the skin rapidly takes a wrinkled texture and turns dark brown, and the inside reduces to a consistency and flavour reminiscent of apple sauce.
- Medlars are hard to start froom seed. They are self-fertile so they donât need another tree for pollination and they produce fruit by the second year.
Genus - Mespilus Species - Germanica Common name - Medlar Other names - Showy Mespilus Pre-Treatment - Required Hardiness zones - 4 - 9 Height - 12-25' / 4-8 m Spread - 20-30' / 6- 9 m Plant type - Tree / shrub Exposure - Full Sun Growth rate - Slow Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline Soil type - Loam, Sand Water requirements - Average water needs. Water regularly, no overwatering Germination rate - 45% Leaf / Flower color - Dark Green / White Plant growth rate - Slow