From an extensive study of literature and plant specimens, Kazimierz Browicz concluded that the true homeland of Mespilus germanica is only in the southeastern part of the Balkan peninsula, in Asia Minor (Armenian highlands), on the Caucasus, Crimea, northern Iran, and possibly also in Turkmenia. It is also found in south eastern Europe, especially the Black Sea coasts of Bulgaria and Turkey. Therefore, it is not native to Western Europe and was evidently introduced during ancient times. It certainly arrived in Britain before c1500, which makes it an archaeophyte in Britain (and Western Europe). The species’ name epithet means "from Germany", but it is an archaeophyte there also. It was most probably introduced to most of Western Europe by the Romans. Though the species may have been cultivated for as long as 3,000 years.
This species turns-up in quite remote places in the south-west, in old field hedgerows and woodland margins, far away from habitation. Especially in Cornwall (rare in Devon). It was certainly more frequent in the past, and the wild form is thought to have genetic erosion. Or it may just be because we’ve lost so much of our ancient hedgerows. The wild form tends to be quite thorny, whereas the modern cultivars tend to be thornless. All this indicates it is not recently introduced.
At Trebrown Nurseries we offer only the wild (thorny) form. It works well as a stock-proof thorny hedge, and the fruit has some wildlife value.
