Stern’s Medlar: A Critically Endangered Arkansas Treasure
Meet Stern’s medlar (Mespilus canescens), one of North America’s rarest native shrubs and a true botanical gem that most gardeners will never have the chance to encounter. This incredibly rare plant species represents both the beauty and fragility of our native flora, serving as a powerful reminder of what we stand to lose when habitats disappear.
A Plant on the Brink
Before we dive into the details of this remarkable shrub, there’s something crucial you need to know: Stern’s medlar has a Global Conservation Status of S1, which means it’s critically imperiled. With typically 5 or fewer occurrences and very few remaining individuals (fewer than 1,000), this plant is hanging on by a thread in the wild. If you’re considering adding this species to your garden, it’s absolutely essential that any plant material comes from responsible, conservation-focused sources.
Where in the World is Stern’s Medlar?
This native treasure calls Arkansas home, making it endemic to this single state within the lower 48 United States. Its extremely limited geographic distribution is part of what makes it so vulnerable to extinction.
Getting to Know This Rare Beauty
Stern’s medlar is a perennial shrub that belongs to the same family as apples and roses. As a multi-stemmed woody plant, it typically grows to heights of 13 to 16 feet, though it can occasionally reach taller heights or develop a single stem under the right environmental conditions. Like most shrubs, it produces several stems that arise from or near the ground level.
Should You Plant Stern’s Medlar?
Here’s where things get complicated. While supporting native plants is generally wonderful for both gardens and local ecosystems, Stern’s medlar presents a unique ethical challenge. Its critical conservation status means that:
- Wild populations are extremely fragile and shouldn’t be disturbed
- Any cultivation should support conservation efforts, not detract from them
- Plant material must come from legitimate conservation programs or botanical gardens
- Home gardeners should consider whether their efforts truly support the species’ recovery
Conservation-Minded Alternatives
If you’re passionate about growing native Arkansas plants but want to avoid the ethical complexities surrounding critically endangered species, consider these alternatives:
- Other native Arkansas shrubs from the rose family
- Native hawthorns (Crataegus species) that provide similar ecological benefits
- Native serviceberries (Amelanchier species) for similar growth habits and wildlife value
The Bigger Picture
Stern’s medlar serves as a powerful reminder of why habitat conservation and native plant gardening matter so much. Every native plant we grow in our gardens – even the common ones – helps support the complex web of relationships that rare species like this depend on for survival.
While most of us may never have the opportunity to grow this particular species, we can honor what it represents by choosing other native plants, supporting conservation organizations, and protecting the wild spaces where Arkansas’s remaining botanical treasures continue to cling to existence.
A Call to Action
If you’re a serious native plant enthusiast interested in conservation, consider supporting organizations working to protect Arkansas’s rare flora rather than seeking to grow Stern’s medlar in your home garden. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do for a plant is to protect its wild habitat and let it be.
The story of Stern’s medlar reminds us that every native plant in our gardens – no matter how common – is precious. By cultivating abundant native species, we create stepping stones and support networks that might just help rare treasures like this one survive for future generations to discover and protect.
