Garden Use
Quince is cultivated mainly for its large, yellow, fragrant fruit that is consumed in various cooked fruit desserts. Also, its nectar-rich, white-to-pink spring flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Growing in the form of a small tree with decorative, irregular bark, it can be planted individually as a specimen tree, in orchards, or back positions in borders. It can also grow as a shrub, although this is less common.
Symbolism
Temptation, Represents a Choice, Abundance
Interesting Facts
Quince is easily confused with ornamental varieties of quince. However, the ornamental varieties generally do not fruit or produce very small, sparse fruits. Quince, on the other hand, produces larger fruits that are bitter unless cooked. Quince is often grown on rootstock, however, this tree can be used as a rootstock for other types of fruit.
Name Story
Common quince: The modern common name comes from the 14th century as the plural of quoyn, from Greek, kydonion melon meaning "Kydonion apple". The fruit was known to the Akkadians who called it supurgillu. In Arabic, the fruit is called quinces. Since it is the most common species in its genus, it is called common quince.
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