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Types of Quince Trees
A handful of popular varieties cultivate the quince tree market. They are differentiated by fruit size, shape and color as well as their chill hour needs.
As a group, quince trees (Cydonia oblonga) are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 9. The small trees rarely exceed 15 feet, and they develop an intriguingly twisted silhouette withing a few years. Most can be pruned to bushes that stand about 8 feet tall. Depending on the variety, quince fruit can be rounded or pear-shaped, with a yellowish to orange exterior, and flesh color that also depends upon which kind you are growing. Quince trees do best in full sun with moist, rich soil, but they often tolerate poor soil conditions.
Choosing Your Quince Tree
Part of deciding which quince tree to grow may depend upon your preferences regarding the fruit itself. For prettier desserts, you might want to choose 'Van Deman' (USDA zones 5 to 10), which turns red when heated. On the other hand, if you are in a more temperate climate, 'Smyrna' might be your best bet because it requires fewer chill hours. Chill hours refers to the amount of time your area experiences temperatures between 32 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The range for the fruiting quince tree group is 300 to 500 chill hours.
Popular Quince Varieties
'Van Deman' (USDA zones 5 to 10) is an early-fall quince variety with orange skin and somewhat grainy flesh. 'Van Deman' requires more chill hours than 'Orange.'
'Orange' (USDA zones 5 to 8) is named for its flesh color, not its exterior. Another early-fall variety, 'Orange' also has an intense flavor, large size and yellow skin.
'Pineapple' (USDA zones 5 to 9), as its name suggests, boasts a flavor reminiscent of that tropical fruit. The yellow-skinned quince variety has a white exterior. 'Pineapple' is a low-chill fruit that ripens mid-fall.
'Smyrna' (USDA zones 5 to 10) has light brown fuzz covering yellow skin. 'Smyrna' is known for its tender interior and large size. The mid-fall quince is one of the low-chill varieties.
'Champion' (USDA zones 5 to 9), also a mid-fall quince, requires more chill hours than 'Pineapple' or 'Smyrna.' Looking much like a large pear in terms of its shape, 'Champion' has light green flesh.
Quince Confusion
Quince trees have near-relatives in ornamental shrubs that are known as flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) and Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica). Like fruiting quince, flowering and Japanese quince produce fruits. These slightly edible fruits are not to be confused with the fruit most commonly known as quince, from the Cydonia oblonga trees. Flowering quince and Japanese quince are low-growing shrubs, notable for their early-blooming flowers. They're available in a variety of bloom colors. Flowering quince cultivars include 'Contorta,' for USDA zones 4 to 8, and 'Scarlet Storm,' hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Japanese quince and its cultivars are generally perennial in USDA zones 5 to 9.
