Fruit · Rosaceae family
common medlar
Mespilus germanica
In short a 10-second read
Common medlar (fruit) grows to 4.5–6.1 m tall and 4.5–6.1 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. It flowers in June; the flowers are white or pink. Plant out in October–April. Hardy to −29 °C.
× spread 4.5–6.1 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, humus-rich
Soil pH 5.5–7.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 20–50 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
June · white or pink
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove dead or damaged parts (December–February).
Planting out
container plant: October–April
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −29 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does common medlar flower?
In June; the flowers are white or pink.
Does common medlar tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does common medlar need?
At maturity 4.5–6.1 m wide and 4.5–6.1 m tall; recommended spacing 400 cm.
Does common medlar survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 17 expert sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (17)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Mespilus germanica
- Oregon State University Landscape Plants — Crataegus germanica
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Mespilus germanica
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Mespilus germanica
- Wikidata (CC0) — Mespilus germanica
- EPPO Global Database — Mespilus germanica
- RHS - Medlars: grow your own
- RHS - Mespilus germanica
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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