Plant Details

Chaenomeles speciosa

Dwarf Quince, Maule's quince

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Common names

30 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chinese Quince[1][2]
  • Dwarf Quince
  • Japonica[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Maule's quince
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Chinese sierkwee[2]
  • Japanse dwergkwee
French
  • Cognassier du Japon
  • Cognassier à fleurs[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 皱皮木瓜[2]
  • 贴梗海棠[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 皺皮木瓜[2]
  • 貼梗海棠[2]
Croatian
  • Ukrasna dunja[2]
Czech
  • kdoulovec ozdobný[2]
Finnish
  • kiinanruusukvitteni[2]
German
  • Chinesische Zierquitte[1][2]
Hungarian
  • pompás japánbirs[2]
Italian
  • Cotogno splendido[2]
Japanese
Korean
Lithuanian
  • Gražusis svarainis[2]
Norwegian
  • storildkvede[2]
Polish
  • Pigwowiec okazały[2]
Russian
  • Айва прекрасная[2]
Slovak
  • dulovec nádherný[2]
Spanish
  • Membrillo de flor[2]
Swedish
  • stor rosenkvitten[2]
Turkish
  • Süs Ayvası[2]
Ukrainian
  • Японська айва пишна[2]
Language not specified
  • Flowering 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 speciosa (Sweet) Nakai ↗

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

Source records
  • Chinese Quince (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 171838; taxon T9KY.
  • Chinesische Zierquitte (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 171839; taxon T9KY.
  • Flowering Quince — VernacularName.tsv, line 171840; taxon T9KY.
[2] Chaenomeles speciosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Chinese quince — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Japonica — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • ボケ — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • kdoulovec ozdobný — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • 貼梗海棠 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • 皺皮木瓜 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Chinese sierkwee — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Cognassier à fleurs — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Chinesische Zierquitte — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • storildkvede — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Айва прекрасная — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Ukrasna dunja — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • 贴梗海棠 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • 皱皮木瓜 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • stor rosenkvitten — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • dulovec nádherný — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Gražusis svarainis — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • 명자꽃 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • pompás japánbirs — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Pigwowiec okazały — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Süs Ayvası — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Японська айва пишна — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Cotogno splendido — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • kiinanruusukvitteni — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.
  • Membrillo de flor — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 160369; Chaenomeles speciosa.

General information

Scientific name: Chaenomeles speciosa
Accepted name (Kew): Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai 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: Dwarf Quince, Maule's quince
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.83–3.66 m

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

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.83–3.05 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: Broad, Dense, Erect, Multi-stemmed, Rounded, Spreading

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

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

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

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally 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), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Hedge, Bee forage, Ground cover

Description

Fruit - cooked. It is very hard and sour when raw, but it develops a pleasant aroma when cooked. It is used for jam, jelly, and as a flavoring for cooked apples. The fruit can take the shape of an apple or pear and can be up to 6.5 cm long and 6.5 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 170885; name ID 2901786; Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 5179158, ID T9KY: Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Chaenomeles speciosa — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 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 .