Practical
Plants

Chaenomeles cathayensis

Chinese Quince

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Spread
3 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - very harsh raw but fragrant when cooked[1][12][13][3][5]. It makes an excellent jelly[7] and a very good jam, it is especially good cooked with apples in apple pies[K]. The fruit is very large and can be 15cm long and 9cm wide[10].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The fruit is antiemetic, antirheumatic, antispasmodic and digestive[4]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatic pain, convulsions of the calf muscles, vomiting, dyspepsia and diarrhoea[4].

Product or use
Antiemetic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Digestive

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China.
Habitat
Scrub and hedges in W. Hubei[8]. Slopes, forest margins and roadsides at elevations of 900 - 2500 metres[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sheltered position outdoors or in a cold frame[10]. Sow stored seed in February in a greenhouse[15]. Germination usually takes place within 6 weeks[15]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. If well grown, these seedling can be large enough to plant out in the summer, but give them some protection in their first winter. Otherwise plant them out in late spring of the following year[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[3]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, November in a cold frame. Layering in late spring or in autumn. This is a sure and easy method, though it takes 12 months[15][10].

Cultivation

Easily cultivated in any reasonably good soil[1][10]. Prefers a deep moist well-drained loam[13][3]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates full shade but requires a sunny position for best fruit production[12][3][10]. Becomes chlorotic on very alkaline soils[9][10]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[10]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is hardy to about -25°c[10]. Plants are subject to canker, especially when growing in the milder moister areas of Britain[14]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[10]. Fruits are usually freely produced in Britain, but they do not always ripen[3][6]. The plant grows and fruits well on a south wall at Kew[K]. A good bee plant, flowering early in the year and providing pollen and nectar[2].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  9. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  11. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  12. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2

  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  14. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

    ↩

  15. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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