Medlar Macrocarpa - Mespilus germanica

The Mespilus germanica 'Macrocarpa' is a variety of German Medlar with large fruits. This somewhat forgotten fruit bush produces large over-ripe medlars, which are consumed after they have been exposed to frost. Bigger than those of the wild species, the beautiful dark green leaves take on ornamental autumnal colours. This dark foliage also highlights the charming simple white flowering in spring. The brown fruits also have a certain decorative interest. Hardy, this old-fashioned fruit tree deserves to be rediscovered for its originality and ease of cultivation.

The Medlar belongs to the large family of Rosaceae, which includes most of our temperate climate fruit trees, many wild plants from our countryside and forests, and also a profusion of ornamental herbaceous or woody genera, such as Avens (Geum), Cotoneaster, and of course Roses (Rosa) which gave their name to the family. The Medlar, whose scientific name comes straight from ancient Greek mespilos, is a monospecific genus, even though there are hybrids obtained by cross-breeding with Hawthorns (Crataegus) called + Crataegomespilus (the + indicates that it is a chimera, a cross between two genera). Mespilus germanica is a shrub whose original range extends from Greece to the Caucasus region and Iran, and is found in France as well as in Central Europe, as it is quite hardy. It is scattered in hedges and woods, especially in sessile oak (Quercus petraea) stands in central and western France. The original wild species forms a shrub or small tree with twisted trunk and numerous thorny branches, but the cultivated forms since ancient times are generally inermous.
The 'Macrocarpa' variety (large fruit in Latin) is indeed distinguished by the size of its medlars. It forms a small tree, often grafted on a half-standard, with a fairly slow growth, especially in the first years, reaching up to 4 to 5 m in height and 3 to 4 m in width. In its shrubby form, it usually reaches a height and width of 3 m, with a spreading habit and a trunk divided into numerous low branches. The foliage consists of long elliptical leaves with pointed tips. Measuring from 12 to 15 cm long and 5 cm wide, the leaves have well-marked veins and a beautiful dark green colour. When autumn comes, they take on warm shades, ranging from yellow-orange to reddish-brown.
The dark foliage allows for a good appreciation of the beauty of the simple flowers, pure white, which bloom in May, delighting bees as they are melliferous. Composed of 5 rounded petals, the fully open corolla measures about 4 cm in diameter. The flowering is slightly fragrant and the plant being self-fertile, it develops into large fruits reaching 5 cm in diameter or more (compared to 3 to 4 cm for the botanical species). Spherical, they resemble small apples and turn from greenish-gray to reddish-brown when ripe, around October-November. Inedible at first due to their very tart flesh, they need to be exposed to frost for their composition to change and for our palate to accept them. They are left to soften for 3 weeks to 2 months, for example by placing them on a bed of straw in a cool and airy place. Rich in tannins, mucilage, and fat, medlars also contain citric, malic, and caratric acids. Astringent, they were used in the past to treat diarrhoea, and the leaves, after decoction, were used to combat aphthae and sore throat. In cooking, the fruits go perfectly with game.

The Mespilus germanica 'Macrocarpa' deserves to regain its place in our gardens. Very hardy and easy to grow, its unusual fruits bring originality to our diet. Aesthetically, it also has true ornamental value and will find its place in an untrimmed hedge, in a varied flower bed, or in a small orchard inspired by the past. You can accompany it with other extraordinary fruit trees such as the Amelanchier 'Ballerina' with its delicious red fruits in autumn. Its foliage, tinged with copper in spring, takes on a sumptuous red, orange, and purple colour in autumn. The Sorbus 'Grananatnaja', resulting from the cross between a Sorbus and a Hawthorn, produces clusters of small dark red fruits with tart yellow flesh. It also displays beautiful autumn colours. And why not a Quince tree, like the Cydonia oblonga 'Vranja', whose pretty yellow fruits can be cooked to make jam, compotes, or crumbles...