Medlar trees

Medlars are unusual orchard fruits, primarily for cooking. The blossom and trees also have ornamental appeal.

• Large Dutch

  Large Dutch, or Flanders Giant, is one of the largest-fruited medlars, with attractive blossom and autum leaf colours.

  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile

• Nottingham

  

  Nottingham is a popular English medlar, used mainly for cooking.

  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile

How to choose Medlar trees

Medlars are distantly related to pears and hawthorns, but with fruit that more closely resembles crab-apples. They are quite easy to grow provided you have a sunny spot.

All medlars are self-fertile, and can be expected to fruit when the tree is 3-4 years old.

Medlars make attractive trees, with large ornamental flowers in spring, and often interesting leaf colours in autumn.

The fruits, which resemble small russet apples, are primarily used for fruit preserves, and have a rich luscious texture when cooked. Some enthusiasts also eat the fruits raw, after they have been left to "blet" for a few weeks.