Side by side
Quince or medlar? How to tell them apart
Cydonia oblonga · Mespilus germanica
How to tell them apart – quince: untoothed leaves with a white-felted underside and large, yellow, downy fruits; medlar: brown fruits with an open crown and lance-shaped, hairy leaves.
How do you recognise them?
- Quince
- Small fruit tree with oval, untoothed leaves with a white-felted underside, and large, yellow, downy fruits.
- Compared with medlar: untoothed leaves with a white-felted underside and large, yellow, downy fruits.
- Medlar
- Small, twisted tree with large, lance-shaped, softly hairy leaves and brown fruits with an open ‘crown’.
- Compared with quince: brown fruits with an open crown and lance-shaped, hairy leaves.
| Quince | Medlar | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, 5–10 cm, oval, untoothed; dark green above, grey- to white-felted below. | Alternate, 8–15 cm, lance-shaped, untoothed or very finely toothed near the tip, dull green and softly hairy; yellow to reddish-brown autumn colour. |
| Flowering | Large, pale pink flowers (4–5 cm) borne singly on short shoots, in May, after the leaves (May). | Large white flowers (3–5 cm), borne singly at the shoot tips, late May (May–June). |
| Fruit | Pear- or apple-shaped, golden-yellow fruits (8–12 cm) with a downy coat and a strong fragrance. Hard and astringent raw, delicious cooked (jelly, quince cheese). | Brown, apple-shaped fruits (2–5 cm) with a wide opening and five sepals. Only edible once they have turned soft and brown after frost or some time in storage. |
| Bark | Smooth, greyish-brown and flaking in plates; twisting branches. | Greyish-brown, flaking in long plates. Wild forms are thorny. |
| Shape and height | Fruit tree, 4–7 m | Fruit tree, 3–6 m |
| Site | Full sun, any garden soil, normal | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | Yes, long naturalised |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees | Yes, for bees and birds |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | December–February | December–February |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Medlar is native: it feeds more insects and birds than a non-native species. If in doubt, choose this one.
Read on
- Plant profile: Quince
- Plant profile: Medlar
- Quince: when and how to prune
- Medlar: when and how to prune
- Identification key: the question that separates them
Also looks like
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.