Cydonia oblonga 'Iranian' (F)

Fruit Edible

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

A small, rounded, deciduous tree, with solitary, pale pink and white flowers in spring which require a period of fairly low temperatures (under 7 degrees centigrade) in order to bloom. Large, pear-shaped, fragrant, deep yellow fruit follow in autumn which, unusually, are suitable for eating raw straight from the tree. Both young foliage and fruit have a downy, silvery-grey coating. As quince fruits are very fragrant, they are best stored away from other fruits to avoid tainting them

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower Fruit

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Cydonia are large deciduous shrubs with simple, ovate leaves and 5-petalled, bowl-shaped pink or white flowers, followed by pear-like fruits, edible when ripe
Name Status: Accepted
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea: This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a warm, sheltered spot as flowers are susceptible to frost and warm conditions are needed for the fruit to ripen well. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, but will do best where soil is deep and moisture retentive, so long as it is not prone to waterlogging. See quince cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by grafting or by semi-ripe or hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Edible fruit

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillars and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to quince leaf blight, brown rot, fireblight, powdery mildews and honey fungus