Chinese Quince Pseudocydonia sinensis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chaenomeles sinensis
- Cydonia sinensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- soo-doh-sigh-DOH-nee-uh sih-NEN-sis
- Description
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Chinese quince is a medium size, flowering, deciduous tree or shrub in the rose family and is native to China. At maturity, it will typically reach 20 feet with a 15 foot spread. The plant leafs out early and displays pink blossoms in early spring. The bark of the tree flakes off to reveal a patchwork of gray, green, orange, brown. The genus name comes from pseudo meaning false and cydonia the genus name of common quince. The species name is from the Latin, sinensis meaning Chinese.
Chinese quince is easy to grow in average, moist, well-drained soil in full sun. The plant will tolerate poor soils and some drought, but prefers fertile, well-drained loams with even moisture. When grown at the northern end of its range, it is best to site it in a location protected from winter winds and temperatures.
Chinese quince will cast light shade and is easy to transplant. It is a long-lived tree and tolerates pruning. Keep in mind that flowering occurs on old growth with pruning.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Fireblight can be a problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pseudocydonia
- Species:
- sinensis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The most common use of the edible fruit is in jam.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Southern China
- Distribution:
- California, Korea, Japan
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Edibility:
- Fruit is edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is fragrant, from 4-6 inches long with citron yellow fruit. The huge, oval fruits ripen in fall with a sweetly fragrant aroma.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- This plant has soft pink flowers with a white base in April and May that are very fragrant, 5 to 7 inches, and cup shaped.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Green 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 inch alternate, simple leaves turn yellow to red in the fall. Elliptic to ovate, shiny, with finely serrated margins.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Green
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Flaky, sycamore-like bark exfoliates into an attractive patchwork of gray, green and brown on the fluted mature trunks of this tree.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stem has upright dense branching.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
