Side by side
Quince or flowering quince? How to tell them apart
Cydonia oblonga · Chaenomeles
How to tell them apart – quince: a small tree without spines, with large pinkish-white flowers in May and large, downy quinces; flowering quince: thorny shrub that flowers in March–April on bare twigs in red, orange, pink or white, followed by hard, fragrant little quinces.
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 flowering quince: a small tree without spines, with large pinkish-white flowers in May and large, downy quinces.
- Flowering quince
- Thorny shrub that flowers in March–April on bare twigs in red, orange, pink or white, followed by hard, fragrant little quinces.
| Quince | Flowering quince | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, 5–10 cm, oval, untoothed; dark green above, grey- to white-felted below. | Alternate, 3–8 cm, oval, finely toothed and glossy; vigorous shoots often have large, kidney-shaped stipules. |
| Flowering | Large, pale pink flowers (4–5 cm) borne singly on short shoots, in May, after the leaves (May). | Cup-shaped flowers (3–5 cm) in clusters on the old wood, from March to May, often before the leaves; scarlet, orange, pink or white (March–May). |
| 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). | Hard, apple-like, yellowish-green fruits (3–6 cm) that smell strongly in autumn; too sour raw, but good for jelly. |
| Bark | Smooth, greyish-brown and flaking in plates; twisting branches. | Tangled, greyish-brown branches with short spines. |
| Shape and height | Fruit tree, 4–7 m | Shrub, 1–2.5 m |
| Site | Full sun, any garden soil, normal | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees | – |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | December–February | May–June |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Choose what suits your soil, your light and the space you have: see the growing conditions in the table.
Read on
- Plant profile: Quince
- Plant profile: Flowering quince
- Quince: when and how to prune
- Flowering quince: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.