Medlar trees are one of those rare fruit trees that make people stop and ask, “Wait… what is that?” And that is part of their charm. Medlars are unusual, old-world fruit trees with a long history, beautiful spring flowers, attractive growth, and fruit that turns sweet and soft after harvest. They are not the kind of fruit tree you see in every backyard, which makes them even more fun to grow.

But medlar trees are not just a novelty. They are genuinely useful trees for gardeners who want something productive, compact, and different from the usual apple, peach, or plum. The fruit is excellent for preserves, baking, fresh eating after bletting, and all kinds of old-fashioned fruit recipes. The trees themselves are attractive enough to earn a place in ornamental landscapes too.

Still, even an easy, unusual fruit tree needs the right planting time. That is where your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone matters. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature, and that minimum affects how cold your winter gets, how quickly your soil warms in spring, and whether a medlar tree will actually be comfortable in your climate. In this guide, we will go zone-by-zone from USDA Zone 3 through USDA Zone 11 and answer:

• When to plant medlar trees in your zone and when to buy them
• Why colder zones should pre-order because many people plant in May, but inventory can sell out before then
• Which medlar varieties match your zone, chill hours, and pollination needs
• Which medlars are best for backyard orchards and small-space edible landscapes
• How to plant bare-root medlar trees and care for them in year one

All medlar varieties and variety details in this article come only from Ty Ty Nursery’s Medlar Trees category page and the individual medlar product pages listed there:

Medlar Trees for Sale Online at Ty Ty Nursery

USDA Zone Temperature Ranges (Zones 3–11)

• USDA Zone 3: -40°F to -30°F
• USDA Zone 4: -30°F to -20°F
• USDA Zone 5: -20°F to -10°F
• USDA Zone 6: -10°F to 0°F
• USDA Zone 7: 0°F to 10°F
• USDA Zone 8: 10°F to 20°F
• USDA Zone 9: 20°F to 30°F
• USDA Zone 10: 30°F to 40°F
• USDA Zone 11: 40°F to 50°F

Before We Go Zone-by-Zone: The 3 Medlar Rules That Decide Your Harvest

If you want medlar fruit and not just a pretty little tree, these three rules matter more than anything:

• Rule 1: USDA zone fit matters. All three medlar varieties on Ty Ty Nursery’s page are listed for USDA Zones 4–9. That means Zones 4–9 are the true in-ground medlar zones from this lineup.
• Rule 2: Chill hours still matter. Medlars on Ty Ty’s page range from about 300 to 500 chill hours depending on the variety, so matching your climate to the right cultivar still matters.
• Rule 3: Plant at the right time for your zone. Planting too early into frozen soil, or too late into rising heat, slows establishment and makes the whole first year harder.

Chill Hours: What They Mean (Simple Version)

Chill hours are the number of winter hours a tree experiences in cool temperatures during dormancy. Medlar trees use winter chill to reset. When spring arrives, the tree can leaf out, bloom, and fruit more normally.

On Ty Ty Nursery’s medlar pages, the listed chill requirements are moderate and very manageable for a wide range of climates:

• Breda Giant Medlar – 400–500 chill hours
• Marron Medlar – 300–400 chill hours
• Royal Medlar – 400 chill hours

That helps explain why all three medlar varieties are listed for USDA Zones 4–9. They have enough cold tolerance for real winters, but they also do not require the extremely high chill levels some nut trees and old-fashioned apples need.

Pollination: Self-Pollinating, But Better with More Than One

Here is the fast way to understand medlar pollination: Ty Ty Nursery describes all three medlar varieties as self-pollinating. That means one tree can produce fruit on its own.

However, the variety pages also clearly note that planting additional medlar trees nearby can improve pollination, increase yield, and often improve overall fruit size. So the easiest rule is this: one medlar can fruit, but two different medlar varieties are usually better if you have the space.

Medlar Varieties Covered in This Guide (Ty Ty Nursery Only)

These are the medlar varieties listed on Ty Ty Nursery’s Medlar Trees page, with their USDA zones and key notes pulled from the category page and variety pages:

• Breda Giant Medlar Tree (Zones 4–9) – 400–500 chill hours – self-pollinating, improved by Marron or Royal
• Marron Medlar Tree (Zones 4–9) – 300–400 chill hours – self-pollinating, improved by Breda Giant or Royal
• Royal Medlar Tree (Zones 4–9) – 400 chill hours – self-pollinating, improved by Breda Giant or Marron

Special medlar note: Marron has the lowest chill requirement of the three, which can make it especially useful in the warmer end of the medlar range. Breda Giant stands out for larger fruit, and Royal is positioned as a sweet, productive, very garden-friendly medlar.

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USDA Zone 3: When to Plant Medlar Trees

Zone 3 has extreme winter cold (-40°F to -30°F), and none of the medlar varieties on Ty Ty Nursery’s page are listed for USDA Zone 3. That means Zone 3 is not an appropriate choice for planting these medlar trees if you want reliable survival and fruit production.

This is not one of those “maybe with a little extra mulch” situations. The listed range for Breda Giant, Marron, and Royal starts at Zone 4, and that is the line to respect if you want dependable results.

Zone 3 reality check: Even though colder zones should often pre-order because May planting windows can arrive after inventory starts moving, medlar simply is not the right in-ground fruit tree choice from this list for Zone 3.

USDA Zone 4: When to Plant Medlar Trees

Zone 4 winter minimums (-30°F to -20°F) still mean a late spring start, but this is where medlar begins to fit. All three medlars on Ty Ty’s page are listed for USDA Zones 4–9, so Zone 4 gardeners actually have the full lineup available.

Best time to plant in Zone 4: Mid-April through May. Plant as soon as the soil is workable. Many Zone 4 areas still plant late April into May.

Best time to buy in Zone 4: Pre-order early. This matters because Zone 4 planting often peaks in May, and the best inventory can tighten by then.

Recommended Zone 4 medlars:

• Breda Giant – 400–500 chill hours – strong cold-climate fit
• Marron – 300–400 chill hours – still very usable here
• Royal – 400 chill hours – strong all-around choice

Zone 4 practical recommendation: If you want the easiest two-tree setup, go with Breda Giant + Royal. Both fit the chill pattern well, and each page recommends the others as useful companions.

USDA Zone 5: When to Plant Medlar Trees

Zone 5 is a very comfortable medlar zone. Winters are cold enough to satisfy chill needs, and the longer growing season makes establishment easier than in Zone 4.

Best time to plant in Zone 5: March through April in many areas, but April through May is common in colder pockets. Plant while the tree is dormant and the soil is workable.

Best time to buy in Zone 5: Pre-order early if you expect to plant in May. This is exactly the kind of zone where waiting can leave you shopping from what is left.

Recommended Zone 5 medlars:

• Breda Giant
• Marron
• Royal

Zone 5 practical plans:

• Breda Giant + Marron for large-fruited diversity and strong cross-support
• Royal + Breda Giant for a very balanced, easy backyard pairing
• Marron + Royal if you want sweet, floral, honeyed fruit with a little variation in chill preference

USDA Zone 6: When to Plant Medlar Trees

Zone 6 is a sweet spot for medlar growing because all three varieties fit easily, winters comfortably meet chill requirements, and the growing season is long enough for very good establishment and fruiting.

Best time to plant in Zone 6: Late February through April. Plant as soon as the soil is workable and not saturated.

Best time to buy in Zone 6: Late winter through early spring. If you wait until late spring, you are often planting right as temperatures start jumping.

Recommended Zone 6 medlars:

• Breda Giant
• Marron
• Royal

Zone 6 recommendation by goal:

• Larger fruit focus: Breda Giant + Royal
• Sweet, floral fruit focus: Marron + Royal
• All-around backyard medlar row: Breda Giant + Marron + Royal

Zone 6 is one of the best places to plant more than one medlar because you are comfortably within range for all three and can really take advantage of their cross-benefits.

USDA Zone 7: When to Plant Medlar Trees

Zone 7 has mild winters compared with northern orchard zones, but medlars still fit beautifully here. The biggest Zone 7 mistake is planting too late in spring and making the young tree establish under rising heat.

Best time to plant in Zone 7: February through March is ideal. April is still workable, but earlier planting usually establishes better.

Best time to buy in Zone 7: Winter into early spring.

Recommended Zone 7 medlars:

• Breda Giant
• Marron
• Royal

Zone 7 practical recommendation: If you want the easiest warm-moderate medlar plan, start with Marron + Royal. Marron’s lower chill requirement is especially comfortable here, and Royal adds strong fruit quality and another pollination boost.

USDA Zone 8: When to Plant Medlar Trees

Zone 8 is still a strong medlar zone, but this is where the lower-chill side of the medlar lineup starts looking especially attractive. That does not mean Breda Giant and Royal stop working. It just means Marron becomes especially useful.

Best time to plant in Zone 8: January through March. Plant during the coolest season so roots establish before heat arrives.

Best time to buy in Zone 8: Winter through early spring.

Recommended Zone 8 medlars:

• Marron – especially good fit because of its 300–400 chill hour need
• Royal – still a very practical choice
• Breda Giant – workable, especially in cooler Zone 8 locations

Zone 8 practical recommendation: If you want the cleanest medlar plan here, go with Marron + Royal. If your site is a cooler Zone 8 pocket, Breda Giant + Marron is also a strong mix.

USDA Zone 9: When to Plant Medlar Trees

Zone 9 is the warm edge for all three medlar varieties on Ty Ty Nursery’s page. That means climate matching becomes more important here, especially around chill-hour planning.

Best time to plant in Zone 9: December through February, during the coolest months.

Best time to buy in Zone 9: Winter. Early planting helps avoid first-year heat stress.

Recommended Zone 9 medlars:

• Marron – best match from the list because of the lower 300–400 chill-hour requirement
• Royal – still listed through Zone 9 and workable in appropriate sites
• Breda Giant – still listed through Zone 9, but best in cooler Zone 9 pockets

Zone 9 practical recommendation: If you want the safest medlar direction, go with Marron + Royal. Marron is the obvious anchor at the warm edge of medlar country from this list.

USDA Zone 10: When to Plant Medlar Trees

Zone 10 is outside the USDA range listed for all three medlar varieties on Ty Ty Nursery’s medlar page. That means Zone 10 is not an appropriate in-ground choice for this medlar list if you want reliable, recommended results.

Medlars are more adaptable than some old-world fruit trees, but they are not tropical fruit trees. Their listed range stops at Zone 9, and that is the line to respect if you want dependable performance.

USDA Zone 11: When to Plant Medlar Trees

Zone 11 is tropical or near-tropical, and none of the medlar varieties on Ty Ty Nursery’s medlar page are listed for USDA Zone 11. That means Zone 11 is not an appropriate choice for planting these medlar trees for reliable production.

Zone 11 reality check: If you want dependable fruiting, stay within the listed USDA range on Ty Ty’s medlar page.

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How to Plant a Bare-Root Medlar Tree

Medlar trees from Ty Ty Nursery ship bare-root during dormancy. Bare-root planting is excellent because the tree is still “asleep” and can focus on root establishment after planting. The steps are simple, but the details matter.

Step 1: Choose the best planting location

• Full sun: 6–8+ hours of direct sun is ideal for fruit production.
• Drainage: Medlars want well-draining soil. Avoid low spots that stay soggy.
• Soil pH: Ty Ty’s pages generally recommend slightly acidic to neutral soil in the 6.0–7.5 range depending on variety.
• Spacing: Space medlar trees about 10–12 feet apart for airflow and growth.

Step 2: Dig the hole

Dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball or root spread and deep enough so roots can sit naturally without bending upward. Keep the best topsoil nearby to use when backfilling.

Step 3: Use Soil Moist Transplant Mix

To help reduce water needs and boost survival due to less shock, use Soil Moist Transplant Mix. Per your instructions, bury it at the bottom of the hole when planting.

Step 4: Fertilize safely with Nutra-Pro 1st Year Fertilizer Packs only

Only fertilize with Nutra-Pro 1st year fertilizer packs during year one. Other granular fertilizers can burn and kill tender new roots. To use Nutra-Pro, simply place the fertilizer pack at the bottom of the hole when planting.

Step 5: Set the tree, backfill, and water in

Set the tree in the hole with roots spread naturally. Backfill with native soil, gently firming to remove air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots. Add mulch to conserve moisture, but keep mulch a couple inches away from the trunk to reduce rot risk.

Watering Recommendation for the First Growing Season

Here is the watering schedule you requested, written in practical terms:

• First couple months: water daily or every other day depending on rainfall and soil drainage.
• Once established: water when producing fruit or as needed during dry spells.

Ty Ty’s medlar pages consistently recommend keeping the soil moist during the first year and then watering deeply during dry periods once established. Your requested first-season watering schedule fits that well.

Ongoing Medlar Tree Maintenance and Pruning

Pruning is how you keep a medlar tree productive, healthy, and easier to harvest from. A well-shaped medlar also gets better airflow and sunlight penetration.

• When to prune: Prune during dormancy or late winter to remove dead or damaged wood and shape the tree.
• Goal: Open structure with good airflow and balanced branching.
• Maintenance: Keep weeds and grass away from the trunk base so the tree does not compete for water.

If you want an easy pruning mindset: remove what is dead, remove what is weak, and open up what crowds the center.

Protect Medlar Trees with Max Growth Tree Shelters

It is good to grow medlar trees with Max Growth Tree Shelters to protect the plants. Young trunks are vulnerable to browsing, weather stress, and accidental yard damage. A shelter helps prevent setbacks during the most vulnerable years.

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Where to Buy Medlar Trees Online

If you are searching for “medlar trees for sale,” “buy medlar trees online,” “best medlar varieties for my USDA zone,” or “how to grow medlar trees,” the best place to buy them is Ty Ty Nursery.

Browse all medlar varieties referenced in this guide here:

Buy Medlar Trees Online at Ty Ty Nursery

• Prices up to 68% lower than other nurseries
• Fastest in season shipping (plant in days the Ty Ty way and not have to wait weeks or months with the other guys)
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Quick zone summary: Zone 3 is not appropriate for this medlar list. Zones 4–7 can use all three medlar varieties comfortably, with Breda Giant and Royal being especially easy anchor choices. Zones 8–9 should strongly consider Marron because of its lower chill requirement, though Royal and Breda Giant can still work in the right sites. Zones 10–11 are not appropriate for this medlar list for reliable production. Across all zones, match the variety to the listed USDA range, use a second medlar if you want to maximize yield, and plant at the right time for your soil and season.