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Chaenomeles sinensis - (Dum.Cours.)C.K.Schneid.

Common Name Chinese Quince, Quince
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 5-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Found at elevations around 1000 metres in Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong and Zhejiang Provinces[266].
Range E. Asia - China.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Chaenomeles sinensis Chinese Quince, Quince


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI
Chaenomeles sinensis Chinese Quince, Quince
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dalgial

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Pink. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Vase.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Chaenomeles sinensis is a deciduous Tree growing to 6 m (19ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Chaenomeles sinensis. Cydonia sinensis. Malus sinensis.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Fruit - eaten as a sweetmeat, candied, preserved in syrup or made into a liqueur[46, 183]. The juice can also be mixed with ginger and made into a beverage[183]. The fruit is very large, up to 18cm long[105, 179].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The fruit is antitussive[174, 279]. It contains several medically active constituents including organic acids plus the flavonoids rutin and quercetin[279]. It is used in Korea to treat asthma, the common cold, sore throats, mastitis and tuberculosis[279].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The fruits are very aromatic and are placed in a bowl to impart a delightful spicy scent to a room[46]. Wood - hard, dark red. Used for picture frames[174].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Specimen. Requires a sunny position[1, 11], succeeding in any reasonably good soil that is well-drained but not dry[1, 200]. Trees are very hardy when grown in a continental climate with long hot summers but in the cooler climate of Britain where they do not always ripen their wood they are only reliably hardy to about -5°c[200]. They grow well on a south-facing wall[11, 200] and this is the only way to ensure that they fruit well in Britain[1]. A plant growing in a sunny position on the south side of tree cover at Kew was 3.5 metres tall in spring 1995 and looked healthy[K]. Occasionally cultivated, especially in China[46], for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties[183]. There is a disagreement over the correct name for this species, with some authorities using Pseudocydonia sinensis[11, 200] and others Chaenomeles sinensis[266]. Flowers are produced on year-old wood[200]. Special Features: Not North American native, Fragrant flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[200]. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification and should be sown as early in the year as possible[113]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Layering.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Anhui Sheng, Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guizhou Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Chaenomeles cathayensisChinese QuinceShrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNM420
Chaenomeles japonicaDwarf Quince, Maule's quince, Japanese Flowering QuinceShrub1.0 5-8 MLMHFSNM303
Chaenomeles speciosaJapanese Quince, Flowering quinceShrub3.0 4-8 MLMHFSNM323
Chaenomeles x californicaCalifornia QuinceShrub1.8 4-8 MLMHSNM312
Chaenomeles x superbaDwarf Quince, Flowering QuinceShrub1.0 5-8 FLMHFSNM303

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Dum.Cours.)C.K.Schneid.

Botanical References

11200266

Links / References

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