About
Cydonia oblonga 'Smyrna' is a deciduous shrub or small tree that produces substantial, furrowed, pear-shaped fruits in autumn, which mature to a yellow hue. The flesh is smooth and pale yellow, transitioning to a light pink upon cooking while maintaining its firmness. Compared to other quince varieties, the leaves of this cultivar are notably larger, featuring the typical green tops and silvery-grey, downy undersides.
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
- Loam, Clay
- 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, Shrubs, 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 deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun in a warm, sheltered spot; see quince cultivation
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by grafting, semi-ripe cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings in autumn/early winter
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids and caterpillars
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to quince leaf blight, brown rot, fireblight, powdery mildews and honey fungus