Chinese Quince is a tree native to China, grown as an ornamental in U.S. gardens and parks. It has pink spring flowers, bark that peels in colored patches, and large, fragrant yellow fruit in fall.
Appearance
Growth form
It is a slow-growing tree or large shrub, usually about 10–20 ft (3–6 m) tall in cultivation. Mature bark flakes away in gray, green, orange, and brown patches.
Leaves
Glossy oval leaves have finely toothed edges and can turn yellow to red in fall.
Flowers
Soft pink, cup-shaped flowers open in spring on older wood.
Fruit
Large oval fruit ripens golden yellow in fall and has a strong fragrance. The flesh is hard and when raw, so the fruit is generally processed rather than eaten out of hand.
Common Quince has smooth-edged leaves and fuzzy ripe fruit. Chinese Quince has finely toothed leaves, smooth ripe fruit, and bark that peels into colored patches.
Why they get mixed up · Both produce large, fragrant yellow fruit and pinkish spring flowers.
Flowering Quince is usually a thorny shrub. Chinese Quince becomes a larger, thornless tree with bark that peels into colored patches. Either can bear a single flower, so flower count alone is unreliable.
Why they get mixed up · Both are Asian rose-family plants commonly called a type of quince.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
gardens and parks
specimen plantings
Range
It is native to central and southern China and is cultivated in the United States rather than native here.
Preferred conditions
It prefers full sun and moist, fertile, well-drained soil, though established trees tolerate some drought. It is suited to 6a–8b.
Growing it
Care
In colder parts of its range, a site sheltered from winter wind is helpful. Pruning should account for flowers forming on older growth.
Name and classification
About the name
Older references may call this tree Chaenomeles sinensis or Cydonia sinensis.