Other Names:  Pyrus cydonia

Description:

A sprawling shrub or small tree grown primarily for the pretty pink flowers in spring along the branches and the edible pear-shaped lemon-yellow fruit used for making delicious preserves; a profuse bloomer for the backyard orchard

Edible Qualities

Pineapple Quince is a large shrub that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces lemon yellow fruit (technically 'pomes') which are usually ready for picking from mid to late fall. The fruits have a tart taste.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Preserves

Features & Attributes

Pineapple Quince is covered in stunning pink cup-shaped flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The oval leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. The fruits are showy lemon yellow pomes carried in abundance in mid fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Pineapple Quince is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Pineapple Quince will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more. This variety requires a different selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit.

This plant is typically grown in a designated edibles garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.