Corinne Helmer, no rights reserved (CC0) · iNaturalist

Cydonia spp.

quince

Rosaceae Caucasus and southwest Asia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Fragrant (moderate)

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–9

Overview

Cydonia is a genus in the rose family (Rosaceae) containing a single species, C. oblonga, the common quince. It is a deciduous large shrub or small tree growing 10-26 feet (3-8 m) tall with a low, crooked, often multi-stemmed form and a rounded crown. Young shoots are woolly, maturing to smooth grey-brown bark. Oval to broadly elliptic leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long are dark green above and densely grey-felted beneath. Solitary white to pale pink five-petalled flowers 2-2.4 inches (5-6 cm) across open in mid to late spring after the leaves emerge, each at the tip of a short shoot. The fruit is a hard, aromatic pome 2.8-4.7 inches (7-12 cm) long, pear- to apple-shaped, ripening from green to golden yellow and covered when young with a grey felt-like down. Raw quince flesh is hard, dry, and astringent in most forms but becomes tender, fragrant, and pink when cooked, and is used for preserves, jellies, and the paste known as membrillo. Cydonia is hardy, long-lived, and self-fertile, so a single plant sets fruit without a pollinating partner, and it is widely used as a dwarfing rootstock for cultivated pears. It tolerates a range of soils but fruits more dependably in regions with warm summers.

Native Range

Cydonia oblonga is native to the Caucasus region, northern Iran, Turkey, and adjacent parts of southwest and central Asia. It has been cultivated for thousands of years and is now naturalised in parts of southern and central Europe, North Africa, and temperate regions worldwide.

Suggested Uses

Cydonia is grown as a fruiting specimen tree in orchards and gardens and as a flowering small tree for spring blossom. The aromatic fruit is used for jellies, preserves, and membrillo paste, and the species is widely used as a dwarfing rootstock for pears. Its low, spreading form also suits training against walls in cooler regions.

How to Identify

Recognise Cydonia as a deciduous small tree or large shrub with a crooked, often multi-stemmed habit and oval leaves grey-felted on the underside. Large solitary white to pale pink flowers 2-2.4 inches (5-6 cm) across appear singly at shoot tips in mid to late spring. The fruit is a hard, aromatic, golden pome 2.8-4.7 inches (7-12 cm) long, downy when young and pear- or apple-shaped. Crushed leaves and ripe fruit are strongly aromatic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height10' - 26'

Width/Spread10' - 20'

Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Cydonia flowers in mid to late spring, generally April to May in the Northern Hemisphere, after the new leaves have expanded. The solitary flowers open over two to three weeks. Fruit develops through summer and ripens in autumn, from September to November depending on climate.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pale pink

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-8 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Cydonia grows in full sun on deep, moisture-retentive but well-drained loam, and tolerates clay and slightly alkaline to acidic soils. Warm summers and a sheltered position improve fruit ripening, while cool, wet summers can leave fruit hard and prone to rot. Plants are hardy to about USDA zone 5 and self-fertile, so a single specimen will set fruit. Young trees benefit from watering through dry spells until established, after which the genus tolerates short droughts. Quince leaf blight and fireblight are the main disease concerns in humid climates. An annual mulch and light feeding in spring support steady growth and cropping.

Pruning

Pruning is carried out in late winter while the plant is dormant, removing crossing, damaged, or congested branches to keep an open framework. Fruit forms at the tips of the previous season's growth, so cropping plants receive only light thinning rather than hard heading back. Basal and rootstock suckers are removed as they appear.