Our young medlar looks a bit different this month.
It is now wearing its fresh spring green outfit.
Before the tree leafs up it is quite difficult to take a clear photo as the background takes over but you should be able to see from the following photo that the first leaves open at the end of the branches like small parasols.
The leaves are fairly large and slightly ruffled. The reverse side of the leaf is deeply veined. It wasn't until I looked at the photo below that I noticed that each leaf has a reddish tinge around its edge.
I don't know whether this is just a natural colouring or the effect of the cold nights we have been having. The reddish tinge to the leaves is emphasised when the leaf is wet.
Our medlar - Nottingham - is grafted onto a quince rootstock which throws up suckers. These have now been removed. The quince tree on our allotment does just the same thing.
As well as the leaves the main interesting feature last month was the production of the flower buds.
The buds have very long sepals which give away the fact that the medlar belongs to the same family as the rose - rosaceae
This post is linking to Lucy's blog if you would like to read about more of the trees that are being followed then pop across and visit
Copyright: Original post from Our Plot at Green Lane Allotments http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/
author S Garrett
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I love foliage at this time of year, when it's still fresh and perfect. I shall look forward to seeing the flowers next month.
ReplyDeleteSo do I CJ but unfortunately the gales have given it a bashing and the leaves are no longer pristine
DeleteIt's a very healthy looking tree and before I read your comments re the Rosaceae family, that was exactly what I was thinking.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing just how many plants are distant relatives of the rose Angie
DeleteI love this time of year, the leaves are so fresh and a beautiful shade of green. Looking forward to seeing the blossom.
ReplyDeleteIt's my favourite time, Jo
DeleteI love those buds, they do indeed look very rose-like, and it will be interesting to see if that lovely red edging persists through the year.
ReplyDeleteMust keep my eye on that, Janet
DeleteI am enjoying finding out more about the medlar, I know very little about them! The bud is lovely, I didn't realize they were related to the rose. Be interesting to see the flower.xxx
ReplyDeleteThey are an interesting tree, Dina but I wouldn't grow one for fruit
DeleteInteresting looking buds.
ReplyDeleteWhich will hopefully soon be open Patsy
DeleteThe beautiful green of your foliage is just amazing. The leaves are so pretty! They look like they'd make a great salad... :)
ReplyDeleteI think looks are deceptive, Anna :-)
DeleteFascinating to see how those first leaves are emerging Sue. Like Janet I wonder whether those attractive red rims will last or whether they will fade as the year goes on. How old is your medlar now?
ReplyDeleteWe planted it 9 years ago Anna, so it hasn't grown very quickly
DeleteThe leaves look so beautiful! Does the red lines appears on young shoots or all the leaves?
ReplyDeleteOn all the leaves at the moment Malar so I will be watching to see if they disappear as the leaves age,
DeleteHere leaves come out and I love their foliage as well Sue. This light green fresh color!
ReplyDeleteSpring green is beautiful Nadezda
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