Growing medlar
pome fruit
Pollination
Self-fertile - one tree is enough.
Growing it
Zones 5-8. A small, ornamental, pest-free tree. The fruit is eaten 'bletted' - left until soft and brown after the first frosts - and used in jellies and pastes.
Where medlar grows best
Hardy in zones 5-8, and it needs enough winter cold - about 100-400 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Will you get enough chill?
Medlar needs roughly 100–400 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does medlar grow in?
Medlar grows in USDA hardiness zones 5-8.
How many chill hours does medlar need?
Roughly 100-400 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Is medlar self-pollinating?
Self-fertile — one plant crops on its own. Self-fertile - one tree is enough.
Which states can grow medlar?
Medlar suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and 16 more, and parts of 21 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.