Plant Details

Chaenomeles cathayensis

Chinese Quince

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Chaenomeles cathayensis.

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Common names

11 names · 8 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Cathay Quince[1]
  • Chinese Quince
Other languages (7)
Dutch
  • Chinese kwee
  • Chinese sierkwee
French
  • Cognassier de Chine
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 木瓜海棠[1]
  • 毛叶木瓜[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 毛葉木瓜[1]
Japanese
Russian
  • Хеномелес катаянский[1]
Slovak
  • dulovec kathajský[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Chaenomeles cathayensis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • 毛葉木瓜 — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 876254; Chaenomeles cathayensis.
  • マボケ — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 876254; Chaenomeles cathayensis.
  • 毛叶木瓜 — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 876254; Chaenomeles cathayensis.
  • 木瓜海棠 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 876254; Chaenomeles cathayensis.
  • Cathay Quince — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 876254; Chaenomeles cathayensis.
  • dulovec kathajský — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 876254; Chaenomeles cathayensis.
  • Хеномелес катаянский — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 876254; Chaenomeles cathayensis.

General information

Scientific name: Chaenomeles cathayensis
Accepted name (Kew): Chaenomeles cathayensis (Hemsl.) C.K.Schneid. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Chaenomeles (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Chinese Quince

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 3.00 m
Spread: 3.00 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
None

Description

The fruit is very hard when raw, but becomes fragrant when cooked. It is excellent for jelly and jam, especially when cooked together with apples in apple pies. The fruit is very large, sometimes measuring up to 15 cm long and 9 cm wide.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 15/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 840039; name ID 2943449; Chaenomeles Lindl.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1435370; name ID 2943461; Chaenomeles cathayensis (Hemsl.) C.K.Schneid..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Chaenomeles cathayensis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5179150, ID T9KQ: Chaenomeles cathayensis (Hemsl.) C.K.Schneid. (accepted).

    Source checked on .