diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_editor/_formlayout.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_editor/_formlayout.py
index e2b371f1652d..2f690a8e109c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_editor/_formlayout.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_editor/_formlayout.py
@@ -342,9 +342,17 @@ def get(self):
             elif isinstance(value, Real):
                 value = float(str(field.text()))
             elif isinstance(value, datetime.datetime):
-                value = field.dateTime().toPyDateTime()
+                datetime_ = field.dateTime()
+                if hasattr(datetime_, "toPyDateTime"):
+                    value = datetime_.toPyDateTime()
+                else:
+                    value = datetime_.toPython()
             elif isinstance(value, datetime.date):
-                value = field.date().toPyDate()
+                date_ = field.date()
+                if hasattr(date_, "toPyDate"):
+                    value = date_.toPyDate()
+                else:
+                    value = date_.toPython()
             else:
                 value = eval(str(field.text()))
             valuelist.append(value)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_editor/figureoptions.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_editor/figureoptions.py
index c0ea7e2ea302..8fc02f4b141b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_editor/figureoptions.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_editor/figureoptions.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from matplotlib import cbook, cm, colors as mcolors, markers, image as mimage
 from matplotlib.backends.qt_compat import QtGui
 from matplotlib.backends.qt_editor import _formlayout
-
+from matplotlib.dates import DateConverter, num2date
 
 LINESTYLES = {'-': 'Solid',
               '--': 'Dashed',
@@ -33,9 +33,17 @@ def figure_edit(axes, parent=None):
     sep = (None, None)  # separator
 
     # Get / General
-    # Cast to builtin floats as they have nicer reprs.
-    xmin, xmax = map(float, axes.get_xlim())
-    ymin, ymax = map(float, axes.get_ylim())
+    def convert_limits(lim, converter):
+        """Convert axis limits for correct input editors."""
+        if isinstance(converter, DateConverter):
+            return map(num2date, lim)
+        # Cast to builtin floats as they have nicer reprs.
+        return map(float, lim)
+
+    xconverter = axes.xaxis.converter
+    xmin, xmax = convert_limits(axes.get_xlim(), xconverter)
+    yconverter = axes.yaxis.converter
+    ymin, ymax = convert_limits(axes.get_ylim(), yconverter)
     general = [('Title', axes.get_title()),
                sep,
                (None, "<b>X-Axis</b>"),
@@ -54,8 +62,6 @@ def figure_edit(axes, parent=None):
                ]
 
     # Save the unit data
-    xconverter = axes.xaxis.converter
-    yconverter = axes.yaxis.converter
     xunits = axes.xaxis.get_units()
     yunits = axes.yaxis.get_units()
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt.py
index da52dc21e2f2..95ef41d97978 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import copy
+from datetime import date, datetime
 import signal
 from unittest import mock
 
@@ -10,7 +11,8 @@
 
 
 try:
-    from matplotlib.backends.qt_compat import QtGui
+    from matplotlib.backends.qt_compat import QtGui, QtWidgets
+    from matplotlib.backends.qt_editor import _formlayout
 except ImportError:
     pytestmark = pytest.mark.skip('No usable Qt5 bindings')
 
@@ -245,6 +247,20 @@ def test_figureoptions():
         fig.canvas.manager.toolbar.edit_parameters()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.backend('Qt5Agg', skip_on_importerror=True)
+def test_figureoptions_with_datetime_axes():
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    xydata = [
+        datetime(year=2021, month=1, day=1),
+        datetime(year=2021, month=2, day=1)
+    ]
+    ax.plot(xydata, xydata)
+    with mock.patch(
+            "matplotlib.backends.qt_editor._formlayout.FormDialog.exec_",
+            lambda self: None):
+        fig.canvas.manager.toolbar.edit_parameters()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.backend('Qt5Agg', skip_on_importerror=True)
 def test_double_resize():
     # Check that resizing a figure twice keeps the same window size
@@ -282,3 +298,20 @@ def crashing_callback(fig, stale):
     canvas = FigureCanvasQTAgg(fig)
     fig.stale = True
     assert called
+
+
+@pytest.mark.backend('Qt5Agg', skip_on_importerror=True)
+def test_form_widget_get_with_datetime_and_date_fields():
+    if not QtWidgets.QApplication.instance():
+        QtWidgets.QApplication()
+    form = [
+        ("Datetime field", datetime(year=2021, month=3, day=11)),
+        ("Date field", date(year=2021, month=3, day=11))
+    ]
+    widget = _formlayout.FormWidget(form)
+    widget.setup()
+    values = widget.get()
+    assert values == [
+        datetime(year=2021, month=3, day=11),
+        date(year=2021, month=3, day=11)
+    ]