Cydonia oblonga

Quince

Species Tolerances

  • Drought Tolerance: High
  • Shade Tolerance: No
  • Waterlogging Tolerance: Low
  • Frost Tolerance (trees from warmer climates may be frost tolerant, but their flowers may not be): Yes
  • RHS Hardiness: H5
  • Optimum Conditions for Growth:
    A small tree usually grown as a specimen or in an orchard. It tolerates all but exposed sites. Full sun and moist, well-drained soil is ideal to produce large flowers and quality fruit. No strong dependence on either acid or alkaline soil pH.
  • Susceptibility to Pest/Disease:
    Quince leaf blight can affect fruit production but is not fatal.

Cydonia oblonga, Bucharest, Romania/ Laurap/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

Service to Pollinators

  • Summary of Service to Pollinators:
    A good source of nectar and pollen, and as the climate warms it could be widely grown for fruit production.
  • Nectar Value to Pollinators: 2 (of 0-3)
  • Honeydew Value to Pollinators: 1 (of 0-3)
  • Pollen Value to Bees: 2 (of 0-3)
  • Flowering Period: May

Risks

  • Human Toxicity: Non-toxic
  • Livestock Toxicity: Non-toxic
  • Invasive Risk: No
  • Suckering: No

Products

  • Edible Fruit: Yes
  • Edible Leaves: Insufficient Data
  • Edible Sap: No
  • Edible Seeds: No
  • Honey, major source in UK: Yes
  • For any medicinal potential, see 'Further Details' below.
  • Timber: No
  • Livestock Fodder: No
  • Other Products:
    quinces are rich in pectin and much prized for their flavour.

Utility

  • Nitrogen Fixation: No
  • Organic Matter Accumulation: Yes
  • Phytoremediation: Insufficient Data
  • Deacidification: Insufficient Data
  • Windbreak: No
  • Soil Erosion Control: Yes
  • Shade or Shelter: Yes
  • Plant Support: Insufficient Data
  • Integrated Pest Management: Insufficient Data
  • Wildlife Value: Yes
  • Wildlife Value Summary:
    Low biodiversity value but service to pollinators and fruit and seed for a wide range of birds and mammals
  • Graduated Nativeness Classification
    ⓘ
    1. Historic Native
    2. Historic Introduction
    9. Neutral Introduction
    : 2 (of 1-10)

Further Details

    Adaptable to warmer climate. and has potential to produce honey as major source, also to produce fruit more reliably. Traditionally grown in Portugal as a nutritional and medicinal tree, the fruit used in jam, marmalade and jelly making. Drying is also an important mode of preserving.