Spring / Summer 2025Pre-order now for delivery September onwards.
Tel. 01759 392007

Nottingham medlar trees

Mespilus germanica
Nottingham medlar fruits
Nottingham has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritNottingham is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Awards: RHS AGM (current) 2014

Nottingham Medlar is one of the best examples of this once-popular fruit. Medlar trees are somewhat similar in appearance to a spreading apple trees. The branches often grow in an interesting and fashion and the leaves are attractive in the autumn.

Nottingham Medlars are primarily grown for their culinary value. However they can be eaten fresh - pick the fruit in late October, then store them in a cool dark place for 3-4 weeks to allow them to "blet". The flesh should then be a soft squidgy mush, similar to a ripe date.

Nottingham medlar trees for sale

Pot-grown

All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • PG1Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree Quince A rootstock£65.50
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root treeQuince A rootstock£38.25
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts

Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.

Tree specification

Photos of trees as supplied | Tree sizes and forms

Pre-ordering

Pre-order now for delivery in September 2025

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Growing and Training

Nottingham Medlar is easy to grow and well-suited to the UK climate. However for best cropping, a sheltered location with a sunny aspect will give better results.

Recommended pollinators for Nottingham medlar trees

Nottingham is self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit. However you are likely to get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us. More pollinators >

  • Pollinator Flanders Giant
    Flanders Giant
    One of the largest-fruited medlars, with attractive blossom and autumnal colours.
  • Pollinator Royal
    Royal
    A compact-growing Medlar, useful for smaller gardens.

Nottingham characteristics

Growing

  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group3

Using

  • Food usesDual purpose

Identification

  • AwardsRHS AGM (current)

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK. Find out more.

Guaranteed fruit trees

When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden while it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund, subject to some conditions. Find out more.

More about medlar trees

Medlars are an unusual fruit species, distantly related to pears and hawthorns, but with fruit that vaguely 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 attractive 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.


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