It makes a very nice spreading form and the flowers are very nice, much larger than its cousins the quince and apple. The fruit get bugs horribly and are quite small and need to be bletted so they are not a very good fruit -- I chopped my medlar down last winter. Even if you don't want fruit there are disease problems such as rusts and fireblight, and it may not be worth it in the long run due to these problems.

Scott

Andrea,
I don't know why my initial search didn't bring up the 'just say no' thread that scott started a while back, but here 'tis... with photos and other good stuff.

Here is a link that might be useful: Just say 'no' to medlars

Ahh, there she be. :) Thanks!

Looks like the majority of the complaints are re: fruiting so that doesn't concern me. Even that young tree has fabulous structure!!! I think I'm going to give it a whirl and educate myself on fireblight!

thanks a lot for taking the time to track down the thread - very kind and considerate of you! :)

I've had a Medlar for about 10 years now. Seems problem free to me. Certainly easier to grow than apples. Would not call it very ornamental though. Clean foliage and self fruitful Only about 8 feet tall with a lot of crooked branches. I've fertilized it most years and have not seen fireblight. The fruit are small though (an inch to an inch and a half) Can't say i developed a taste for them. But, they are palatable.
Certainly a curiosity.
........................Dutchess12545