medlar tree

[pheonix]

interesting, ive never heard of them before, what sort of tree/fruit are they?
from the picture the plant looks like it would be in the rose family?

and whats the other name then?!!

[nightshade]

Hi phoenix ,yes the medlar is of the rose family,the vulgar name would be
censored try Henrya as a private message

[Fourwings]

I was looking through a seed catalogue this morning & had a real suprise, there in the rear of the catalogue in the fruit tree section was medlar tree for sale at £18.95 per tree.
The seed company concerned was Dobies seeds, based in Devon, I'm sure there was a web address on the catalogue but can't remember it, but I'm sure if you type "Dobies seeds" into google it should find them.

[Fourwings]

Just found the website its www.dobies.co.uk

Details on the site about the tree are as follows:-

A beautiful tree with unusual fruits!

Medlar Westeveldt

An extremely attractive and quite fascinating tree (a relative of the Quince family), with large, glossy leaves, beautiful white blossom in springtime and pretty bronze foliage in autumn. The curious flattish fruit are aready to pick in October and should then be stored for a few weeks (known as bletting) to fully develop their truffle-like flavour. A fine accompaniment to wine and cheese! (Last order time is end of February 2006.)

Culture Full growing instructions included.

To add this item to your shopping basket, click on the 'select' button beneath

1 Tree £ 18.95

Delivery period: Early February-early March 2006
Code: 479738

There's also a good image of the Medlar friut.

[nightshade]

A little more robust looking than I remembered,thank you for finding it,
Fourwings

[Sosoome]

Hi,
I have just got onto this site as a followup to the Medlar fruit having seen it on a Tv program.
Is it the same or similar to the Persimon? I am not sure that that is spelt correctly.
Thanks
Greg

[The Woodman]

My grandmother's working life was in domestic service and she always refered to the medlar by it's vulgar name. The tree used to fascinate me as a child and I chose one along with three other species as a twenty first birthday present from my other grandmother. It survived a couple of moves but hopefully remains in the garden of an estate cottage in the centre of the county of Chester.

Having tried to enjoy the bletted / jellied fruits many times, the best advice I can offer is - don't bother unless you like gritty tannic mush! Loudon says in his Encycolpaedia of Gardening (1878) that "the fruit is eaten raw in a state of incipient decay; its taste and flavour are peculiar, and by some much esteemed."

The tree is one to enjoy as Dobies description in Fourwings post is accurate. I know of several locally to me, there is a fine row of them on the east side of the A6 as it leaves Kendal alonside the school playing field opposite the Texaco garage.

They are easily propagated by planting the stones from a ripe fruit and best grafted on to Hawthorn stock, but can be grafted on to self stock.

[nightshade]

The Medlar fruit is eaten when it has bletted, ie looks dark brown and is very soft, it is an aquired taste.
The tree itself has beautiful white flowers and large oval leaves and could make a nice specimen tree in a small garden. I enjoy mine
The Woodland Trust | Features | Mystery fruit tree found

[Ferityelf]

Hi

In my garden in the Limousin France I have a small tree/bush that appeared from nowhere. After tending it for a few years it has rewarded me with one dog rose type flower. Friends have said that they think it is a Medlar but I am not sure. The leaves are light green and soft with a downy underside.
I have attached some pics to help identify it. Any help would be appreciated.

[artdemole]

Wikipedia medlar [Mespilus] Says it all on the site or is it hole.