Plant Details

Chaenomeles japonica

Japanese Quince, Flowering quince

Back

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

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

31 names · 22 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Flowering quince
  • Japanese Quince[1][2]
Other languages (21)
Dutch
  • Japanse dwergkwee. Japanse sierkwee
  • Japanse sierkwee[2]
French
  • Cognassier du Japon[2]
Belarusian
  • Хенамелес японскі, ці Айва японская[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 日本木瓜[2]
  • 日本海棠[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 倭海棠[2]
  • 日本木瓜[2]
Czech
  • kdoulovec japonský[2]
Danish
  • lille japankvæde[2]
Estonian
  • jaapani ebaküdoonia[2]
  • madal ebaküdoonia[2]
  • näsaline ebaküdoonia[2]
Finnish
  • japaninruusukvitteni[2]
German
  • Japanische Quitte[2]
  • Japanische Zierquitte[1]
Hungarian
  • Valódi japánbirs[2]
Japanese
  • クサボケ[2]
Lithuanian
  • Japoninis svarainis[2]
Norwegian
  • småildkvede[2]
Polish
  • Pigwowiec japoński[2]
Russian
  • Айва японская[2]
  • Айвочка японская[2]
Slovak
  • dulovec japonský[2]
Swedish
  • liten rosenkvitten[2]
Turkish
  • Japon Ayvası[2]
Ukrainian
  • Айва японська[2]
  • Японська айва звичайна[2]
Language not specified
  • Maule's quince[1]
Sources & name notes (2)

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] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ex Spach ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Japanese Quince (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 171835; taxon 69MTX.
  • Japanische Zierquitte (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 171836; taxon 69MTX.
  • Maule's quince — VernacularName.tsv, line 171837; taxon 69MTX.
[2] Chaenomeles japonica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Japanese Quince — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Japanische Quitte — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Cognassier du Japon — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • クサボケ — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • kdoulovec japonský — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Japanse sierkwee — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • småildkvede — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Japoninis svarainis — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Айва японская — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • japaninruusukvitteni — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • liten rosenkvitten — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Pigwowiec japoński — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • 日本木瓜 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • jaapani ebaküdoonia — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • näsaline ebaküdoonia — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • madal ebaküdoonia — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Хенамелес японскі, ці Айва японская — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • 倭海棠 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Айва японська — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • lille japankvæde — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Japon Ayvası — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Valódi japánbirs — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • 日本木瓜 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • dulovec japonský — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Айвочка японская — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • 日本海棠 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.
  • Японська айва звичайна — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 61236; Chaenomeles japonica.

General information

Scientific name: Chaenomeles japonica
Accepted name (Kew): Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ex Spach 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: Japanese Quince, Flowering quince
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.91–1.83 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Open, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet, Very Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Ground cover

Description

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is very hard and sour in its raw state, but when cooked, it becomes fragrant and gives a strong and pleasant flavor to jams and jellies. It is especially tasty when cooked with apples in apple pies. The apple-shaped fruit is about 4 cm in diameter. The rich and aromatic juice, which is as sharp as a lemon, can be pressed and used in the kitchen.

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 840058; name ID 2943472; Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ex Spach.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 2021613, ID 69MTX: Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ex Spach (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Chaenomeles japonica — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .