Medlar (Westerfield)

Description

Westerveld is an old Dutch medlar cultivar that has been in European cultivation long enough to earn registration with the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK. Among medlars it stands out for ornamental qualities as much as for fruit — the tree is semi-dwarf with a slightly weeping habit, and the spring bloom is unusually large, with white flowers that resemble single white roses rather than the more typical medlar cup.

The fruit is large for medlar — to about 2 inches across — and develops the soft, sweet-tart, applesauce-like character medlar is known for after the standard bletting process. Westerveld is particularly well regarded for jam and jelly preparation, where the larger fruit size and good flavor make for an efficient, productive kitchen yield. Like all medlars, Westerveld fruit is harvested hard in late October to November and bletted in cool storage for several weeks before eating.

Westerveld is self-fertile and comparatively low-pressure for pests and diseases in most growing regions. It prefers full to half-day sun and well-drained soil, is hardy across roughly USDA Zone 5–8, and works as well in an ornamental garden role as in a food-producing one — the weeping habit, the large rose-like bloom, and the russet-bronze autumn foliage give it presence throughout the year.

Overview

• Old Dutch heritage medlar; RHS-registered cultivar.
• Semi-dwarf with a slightly weeping habit.
• Large white spring flowers resembling single white roses.
• Large fruit (up to about 2 inches) with sweet-tart applesauce-like character after bletting.
• Well regarded for jams and jellies.
• Self-fertile; suitable across roughly USDA Zone 5–8.

Growing Details

Latin Name: Mespilus germanica ‘Westerveld’Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soilHardiness: Roughly USDA Zone 5–8Rootstock: Grafted onto Provence Quince BA29C rootstockBearing Age: 2–3 years after plantingSize at Maturity: Semi-dwarf with a slightly weeping habit; smaller and more refined than typical medlarsBloom Time: Late May; large white flowers resembling single white rosesRipening Time: October into November; fruit then requires bletting before eatingPollination: Self-fertilePests & Diseases: Medlar is comparatively low-pressure for pests and diseases across most growing regions

Additional Notes

• Grower’s Insight: Westerveld earns its place as much for the spring bloom and weeping form as for the fruit — the large rose-like flowers and the refined, slightly weeping habit make it one of the more ornamental medlars in cultivation, and the larger fruit size is a real practical advantage in the jam-and-jelly kitchen.
• Regional Insight: Medlar performs across a wide swath of temperate North America, and Westerveld’s Dutch-heritage origin suits it especially to maritime and continental climates with the mild-to-cold winters the species prefers.
• Explore more medlar in our collection: Medlar