Does anyone know of a reliable source for medlar (Mespilus germanica)? NOT Japanese medlars (Eriobotrya japonica), also called loquats. I am looking for the tree as described by Lee Reich in his book Uncommon Fruits, the fruits are brown, like a "russetted apple," with a brown, mushy interior. If anyone has these available, or knows where one might find them, I'd love to try planting one or two!
I have a medlar tree variety Nottingham. It produces a lot of fruit but seems that the seed is not viable. I wonder what you have to do to get them to germinate? It is a beautiful tree and does not get more than about 12 foot tall quite spreading and grows a bit like a Quince.
Medlar needs to be grafted to a hawthorn. Preferably with the graft union down low and soil mounded up so that the scion roots. Medlar scion will out grow the hawthorn rootstock hence the encouraging it to root.
One green world in Oregon has this, as well as many other strange and wonderful things. One of the descriptions I've heard of the fruit is 'spiced apples', which, to me, seems very generous. I found it more like baby food, but to each their own.
