Medlar 'Large Russian' Mespilus germanica 'Large Russian' (F)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

'Large Russian' is a small, spreading tree or large shrub withpendulous branches and large,oblong leaves turning yellow-brown in autumn.White flowers, 5cm in width, in late spring, are followed by russet-brown fruit 7cm across

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Large Russian Medlar, Russian Medlar.
- Common names
  Mespilus germanica.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  White
- Height
  10-20 feet (3-6 meters)
- Spread
  10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters)
- Plant type
  Tree
- Hardiness zones
  5-7
- Native area
  Southwest Asia, Southeast Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Edible Fruit: The 'Large Russian' medlar produces fruit that can be eaten fresh or used in various culinary preparations, such as jams and jellies.
- Landscape Aesthetics: It is an attractive deciduous tree with white flowers, providing ornamental value with its spring blooms and autumn foliage.
- Wildlife Attraction: The tree's fruit attracts birds and other wildlife, creating a dynamic ecosystem in the garden.
- Pollinator Friendly: The flowers provide food for bees and other pollinators, supporting biodiversity.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, the 'Large Russian' medlar is drought-resistant, making it suitable for xeriscaping and water-efficient landscapes.
- Cold Hardy: It is capable of withstanding colder temperatures, which allows it to thrive in many temperate climates.
- Low Maintenance: The tree generally requires minimal pruning and care, making it a good choice for low-maintenance gardens.
- Erosion Control: The plant's root system helps to stabilize soil, preventing erosion in sloped areas of the landscape.
- Cultural Heritage: By growing traditional varieties like the 'Large Russian' medlar, gardeners can help conserve horticultural heritage and diversity.
- Educational Value: It can provide an educational opportunity to learn about unique, less common fruit trees and historical agriculture.
Medical Properties
- Antioxidant: The fruit of the medlar (Mespilus germanica) contains Vitamin C and other antioxidants, which may help in protecting the body from oxidative stress.
- Diarrhea Treatment: Medlar fruit, when taken in its hard, unripe form, has been traditionally used to treat diarrhea due to its astringent properties.
- Digestive Health: Consuming ripe medlar fruit can aid digestion owing to its fibre content.
- Anti-inflammatory: Medlar leaves and fruits have anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce inflammation in the body.
This list provides a general overview and should not be taken as an endorsement of effectiveness or safety for these uses. It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- The medlar fruit, when bletted (over-ripened), can be used as a natural sweetener in desserts and baked goods as its sugars concentrate, providing a unique flavor.
- Wood from the medlar tree is dense and can be used for making small turned items like tool handles or craft objects, showcasing its fine grain when polished.
- The tree can serve as a landscape specimen in ornamental gardens, valued for its white flowers in spring and attractive golden to reddish leaves in autumn.
- Young medlar leaves can be used as a natural fabric dye, producing hues that vary from soft yellow to green depending on the mordant used.
- The medlar fruit's high pectin content makes it ideal for setting jams and jellies, even those made from other fruits.
- The dense canopy and spreading habit of the medlar tree provide habitats and nesting sites for various bird species, promoting biodiversity.
- Medlar can be espaliered against walls or fences to create living architectural features in a garden design.
- Culinary enthusiasts can use medlar fruits in savory recipes, such as in sauces or chutneys that complement meat dishes, for an unexpected twist.
- In crafting, dried medlar fruits are sometimes used as natural decorations in wreaths or as part of floral arrangements, especially during the autumn and winter seasons.
- Due to its slow growth and tolerance of pruning, medlar is suitable for bonsai cultivation, allowing enthusiasts to create miniature landscapes for display.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Medlar tree is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Medlar tree is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Patience: As Medlar (Mespilus germanica) fruits need to blet (soften) before they can be consumed, they represent the virtue of patience, reflecting the need to wait for the right moment.
- Time and Transformation: Medlar undergoes a distinct transformation from being hard and inedible to soft and sweet, symbolizing the passage of time and the positive changes it can bring.
- Love and Affection: In some cultures, because of its unique shape reminiscent of a rose when cut open, the Medlar fruit has been associated with matters of the heart, standing for romantic love and affection.
- Overcoming Adversity: The Medlar tree's ability to grow in less than ideal conditions and produce fruits late in the season is seen as a testament to resilience and overcoming hardship or adversity.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

60%

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Late Winter

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
For Medlar trees, watering should be consistent, especially during dry spells. Newly planted trees require water every 7–10 days. Ensure that the soil is moist but not saturated. Once established, they are relatively drought-tolerant but should be watered every two weeks if there is no rain. During the growing season, a mature Medlar tree typically needs 1–2 gallons of water per week, depending on the weather conditions.
Light
Medlar trees thrive best in full sun, where they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. They can tolerate partial shade but fruit production and quality may be reduced. The ideal spot for planting Medlars would be a south-facing location that receives ample sunlight throughout the day to ensure healthy growth and fruiting.
Temperature
Medlar trees prefer temperate climates and can withstand cold temperatures down to about -20°F, which is vital for their dormancy period. The ideal growing temperatures for Medlars range between 60°F and 80°F. They are hardy and can survive brief temperature extremes; however, prolonged exposure to temperatures above 90°F or below -20°F can be detrimental.
Pruning
Pruning Medlar trees is important to maintain an open canopy and remove any dead or diseased wood. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Prune annually to shape the tree and enhance sunlight penetration and air circulation, which is essential for fruit quality and reducing disease incidence.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Medlar (Large Russian) thrives in well-draining soil with a mix of loam, peat, and sand with a pH around 6.0 to 7.5. Organic matter like compost can also enhance soil fertility.
Repotting
Medlar trees, including the 'Large Russian' variety, generally do not need frequent repotting. Only repot when the tree outgrows its current container, which may be every few years.
Humidity & Misting
Medlar ('Large Russian') is tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels and prefers outdoor conditions where humidity is not a controlled factor.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Not ideal for indoors; requires sun, space, and outdoor climate.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil; space to accommodate growth.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
Medlar 'Large Russian' (Mespilus germanica 'Large Russian') starts its life cycle as a dormant seed, which after stratification—a period of cold to break dormancy—germinates in the spring. The seedling then develops into a young plant with a rosette of leaves and a root system that supports growth into a sapling. As the sapling matures, it forms a woody stem and branches, eventually growing into a fruit-bearing tree. The mature tree flowers in late spring; the white flowers are hermaphroditic and pollinated by insects, leading to the formation of the distinctive brown fruits. The fruits mature in late autumn, becoming edible after bletting, a process where they soften and develop their flavor post-frost. Medlar trees can live for several decades, during which they continue to grow, flower, and fruit, completing the life cycle as seeds from the fallen fruits find suitable conditions to germinate and start a new generation.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Late Winter
- Propogation: The Mespilus germanica 'Large Russian', commonly known as the Medlar, is commonly propagated by grafting. Grafting is the process of joining two plants together so they grow as one. It involves taking a piece of stem, with or without a leaf or bud, from one plant and joining this onto a growing plant. For Medlars, this is typically done in late winter or early spring before the sap rises. The chosen method often involves taking a scion wood, which is a twig from the desired Medlar with dormant buds, and grafting it onto a rootstock of another compatible species. This clever technique allows the gardener to essentially clone the parent plant, ensuring that the fruit produced is true to the parent plant's characteristics.