Fruit · Rosaceae family
quince
Cydonia oblonga
In short a 10-second read
Quince (fruit) grows to 3.6–4.6 m tall and 2.8–4.6 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. It flowers in April–May; the flowers are pink or white. Plant out in October–April. Hardy to −29 °C.
× spread 2.8–4.6 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, sandy, clay
Soil pH 5.5–7
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 10–20 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
April–May · pink or white
Pruning
formative pruning (December–February)
Planting out
container plant: October–April
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −29 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does quince flower?
In April–May; the flowers are pink or white.
Does quince tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does quince need?
At maturity 2.8–4.6 m wide and 3.6–4.6 m tall; recommended spacing 350 cm.
Does quince survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 18 expert sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (18)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Cydonia oblonga
- Oregon State University Landscape Plants — Cydonia oblonga
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Cydonia oblonga
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Cydonia oblonga
- Wikidata (CC0) — Cydonia oblonga
- EPPO Global Database — Cydonia oblonga
- RHS - Quince
- RHS - Cydonia oblonga
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow trees
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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