Quince

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Revision as of 12:41, 19 March 2011 by imported>Hayford Peirce (widely used as a rootstock)
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© Photo: Petréa Mitchell
Quince, the fruit. © Photo: Petréa Mitchell

Quince is the name of a small tree of the genus Cydonia, also grown as a shrub, and the fruit produced by that tree. Quinces are native to Iran and Turkey.

Quinces are grown under similar conditions to apple and pear trees, and are susceptible to many of the same diseases and pests, such as fire blight and scale insects. It is, however, widely used by commercial growers as a rootstock for grafts of apple and pear trees.

Being naturally high in pectin, the fruit is used mainly for jellies and preserves, but may also be eaten baked or prepared like other fruits.