Quince, Cydonia oblonga is a deciduous, broad-leafed fruit tree, member of the Rosaceae family, the genus cydonia. Botanically, Quince used to be addressed Pyrus cydonia, but contemporary plant scientists now position it in the genus Pyrus and specify it to a separate genus, to which the early specific name Cydonia has been given.

Quince has been cultivated by people for thousands of years. It is exceptionally sturdy and can withstand both extended periods of dry and intense cold; to about -15°c. It can grow to 7.5m tall by 7m wide at an average rate.

Quince is originating from Iran and possibly Turkey and it features strongly in the history and mythology of both Greece and Rome. It is a rounded golden colored relative of the apple. It is a very long lived fruit tree and has a attractive, knotted, twisted visual aspect.

It can succeed in full-shade, semi-shade or no shade locations and does well in nearly all types of soil. However, it favors a lighter damp productive soil and a sunny position. It is in blossom in May and the flowers are both male and female (hermaphrodite), pollinated by insects. Little attention is asked on dormant periods of time.

Quince Fruit

Although quince isn’t a widely grown fruit crop, has been cultivated for over two thousand years. It is prized for its high fruit pectin content and is used often in jams, jellies and also cosmetics (is said pectin can protect the body against radioactivity) and prepared in a variety of recipes. This fruit is one of the very few that must be cooked first before eaten as it is too tart, hard and unsavory to eat raw for most people.

Quince Propagation Methods

Propagation is by seeds but also by cuttings or layers, the former making the best plants. Seeds involve pre-chilling for four months if it is fresh, while old seeds will involve 10-12 days of warm stratification first and then four months of cold treatment.

Cultivars: Smyrna – This is a Turkish variety with super large fruit, light yellow flesh and brilliant yellow skin. It can be planted as an appealing tree with its dark green foliage and very flashy blooms. The flesh is mild, tender and good to very good in quality.

quince, Cydonia oblonga

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