About
Cydonia oblonga 'Lusitanica' is a compact, rounded deciduous tree. It produces solitary flowers that measure up to 5 cm across, displaying shades of pink and white. In the autumn, the tree bears large, pear-shaped fruits that are fragrant and turn a deep yellow. The young leaves and fruit feature a soft, silvery-grey downy texture.
About the genus
Cydonia consists of sizable deciduous shrubs featuring simple, ovate foliage. The plants produce bowl-shaped flowers with five petals, which can be pink or white. After flowering, they bear fruits resembling pears, which are suitable for consumption once they mature.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Fruit Edible, Trees
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden
- Fragrance
- Fruit
- Toxicity
- Seeds contain toxins so these should be removed if you are considering eating the fruit, usually grown as an ornamental shrub. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a warm, sheltered spot as flowers are susceptible to frost and warm conditions are needed for the fruit to ripen well. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, but will do best where soil is deep and moisture retentive, so long as it is not prone to waterlogging. See quince cultivation
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagated from semi-ripe cuttings in summer, but it is often propagated by grafting onto a clonal rootstock for fruit. The rootstock will determine the size of the plant
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to caterpillars and aphids
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to quince leaf blight, brown rot, fireblight, powdery mildews and honey fungus