Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa)

Family: Rosaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Flowering quince is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub with attractive flowers growing to 3 m (9ft). The fruit is cooked. It is very harsh and acid raw but fragrant when cooked. Used for jams, jellies etc. and as a flavouring with cooked apples. The fruit can be apple or pear-shaped and up to 6.5cm long x 6.5cm wide. The fruit is improved by a cold spell becoming softer. Flowering quince juice contains 150 mg of vitamin C, more than lemons.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavouring with cooked apples. — Very harsh and acid raw but fragrant when cooked.; Used for jams, jellies etc and as a flavouring with cooked apples.; The fruit can be apple or pear-shaped and up to 6.5cm long x 6.5cm wide.

Habitat & North American Range

Long cultivated, its natural habitat is now obscure. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)