21 Great Quince Tree Varieties for Fruit and Aesthetics

Are you looking for an ornamental flowering tree that produces delicious fruit and looks great throughout the year? If yes, then the quince tree is the perfect option for your garden. These are the best varieties to choose from.

The tree generally grows between 16 to 26 feet in height, depending on the variety. The fruit also varies in size, ranging from 3 to 5 inches in length. The leaves are alternately arranged and feature fine white hairs. Flowers usually appear in spring – each with five white or pink petals.

The quince tree is rarely grown as a food crop in the US, falling way behind apples, peaches, cherries, and other fruit trees. However, it is a different story in the rest of the world. The quince fruit is used abundantly in different cuisines. Quince jams, jellies, and pastries are especially renowned for their taste. It is also used to prepare a variety of refreshing drinks.  

In America, the quince tree is mainly used to add a unique aesthetic element to gardens, thanks to its attractive pink blossoms and other ornamental qualities. The flowers attract pollinators, including stunning butterflies and bees. The tree is most commonly found in Northern America.

Many people confuse the common quince tree (Cydonia oblonga) with Japanese quince, which is an ornate flowering shrub. Make sure you do not make the same mistake as the Japanese quince is a completely different plant.

So, are you ready to plant a quince tree in your garden? Keep in mind that growing the quince tree for fruit will take some time and effort. Plus, cross-pollination helps with production. So, it is a good idea to plant two trees if you want an abundance of fruit. Without further ado – here are some varieties to consider.  

1. Meech’s Prolific Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga ‘meech’s prolific’ 
• Height: 12 to 15 feet
• Harvest Time: Late September to Early October 

Meech’s Prolific prefers a warm climate but does well in a variety of climates. As the name suggests, the tree is a heavy producer. However, it takes about 3 to 5 years to produce the first fruits. While the tree looks lovely throughout the year, it blooms in May. The blossoms are beautiful, adding ornamental value to your landscape. 

2. Vranja Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga ‘vranja’
• Height: 9 to 13 meter  
• Harvest Time: October

Vranja Quince is a semi-dwarfing tree. With its colorful and decorative blossoms and manageable height, Vranja makes a breathtaking display when trained in a fan shape against a garden wall. Keep in mind that while the plant is forgiving and low maintenance, it is not a fan of wet soil. So, make sure you use well-drained soil and choose a sunny spot for your Vranja quince tree.    

3. Champion Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ champion’
• Height: 8 to 12 feet
• Harvest Time: October to November 

Champion quince can be easily kept at the height of 6 to 8 feet when pruned properly. It produces large and round fruit. If you are looking for a very low-maintenance quince tree, then Champion should be on the top of your list. It is the most reliable of all varieties and resistant to most pests and diseases.  

4. Lescovatza Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga ‘lescovatza’
• Height: 5 to 8 feet 
• Harvest Time: October 

Native to Serbia, Lescovatza quince is a highly productive variety often used for culinary purposes. It features large green foliage and round yellow-green quinces. It is a dwarf variety. So, Lescovatza may be an excellent choice if you plan on growing your quince tree in a container.

5. Le Bourgeaut Quince Trees

• Cydonia oblonga ‘le bourgeaut’
• Height: 12 to 15 feet
• Harvest Time: Early October 

Le Bourgeaut quince tree produces small apple-like, juicy fruits that are ideal for culinary use. Like all other varieties, the tree is self-fertile. However, it produces the best crop when planted with other trees. It can thrive from Maine to California in USDA Zones 5 -9.

6. Rea’s Mammoth Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ rea’s mammoth’
• Height: 12 to 15 feet
• Harvest Time: Mid October

Rea’s Mammoth quince tree is a stunning variety. It produces beautiful rose pink blossoms that eventually turn into large pear-shaped fruits that ripen to a rich yellow-golden in fall. The tree is such a heavy producer that you may find the branches bending due to the weight of the fruits.

7. Orange Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ orange’
• Height: Up to 20 feet
• Harvest Time: October to December 

The Orange quince tree is one of the larger cultivars with crooked branches. It bears heavily, producing bright yellow pear-shaped fruits that are highly aromatic and flavorful – perfect for jams and jellies. These trees do best when grown in moist, heavy soils and are often found near creek banks in their natural habitat.  

8. Cooke’s Jumbo Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ cooke’s jumbo’
• Height: 8 to 9 feet 
• Harvest Time: September to October 

Cooke’s Jumbo quince tree is a small bushy tree that produces big, sweet, and juicy quinces. The tree may be small, but it is strong as a might oak. It yields yellow-green fruits with firm white flesh. Cooke’s Jumbo quinces are not eaten raw. However, you can use the harvest for baking and preparing jellies.  

9. Pineapple Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ pineapple’
• Height: 8 to 10 feet
• Harvest Time: October to November 

Pineapple Quince is a beautiful accent tree that works great as an ornamental tree in any landscape, especially in the summer when the branches are filled with pink blossoms and fall when yellow-green fruits appear. Pineapple Quince is much tougher than most other varieties. It is heat resistant, drought-tolerant, and cold-hardy – the ideal low-maintenance tree for your garden!  

10. Rich’s Dwarf Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ rich’s dwarf’
• Height: 10 to 12 feet
• Harvest Time: Late September to October 

Rich’s Dwarf may be a dwarf variety, but the fruit is huge and delicious. Secondly, these trees are adaptable to most climates, whether you plant them outdoors or in a container. However, it is best to choose a sunny spot for your tree. It bears fruits in 2 to 3 years after planting.

11. Smyrna Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ smyrna’
• Height: 10 to 12 feet
• Harvest Time: September 

Smyrna Quince is a vigorous growing tree. It is attractive, easy to grow, and bears lemon-yellow fruits that appear following beautiful pink blooms in spring. Smyrna quince is also prized for its taste and is often used to prepare baked goods and tasty preserves.  

12. Aromatnaya Quince Fruit Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ aromatnaya’
• Height: 20 to 25 feet  
• Harvest Time: Late September to October 

Aromatnaya Quince tree is ornamental and very productive. It produces round yellow quinces that are extremely aromatic and have a flavor similar to fresh pineapple. The fruit is ideal for making sauces, butter, and marmalades. However, if you want to grow your quince tree in a pot, Aromatnaya may not be the best cultivar for you.   

13. Lusitanica Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ lusitanica’
• Height: 8 to 14 feet 
• Harvest Time: Late September 

Want some of the best-tasting quinces? Consider growing the Lusitanica Quince tree in your garden. The fruit is large and yellow-orange in color. Unlike some other varieties, it has a soft texture and mild flavor. The flesh turns red when cooked. The tree is also taller and vigorous than most other cultivars. However, it is less hardy and more suited for warmer climates.  

14. Riches Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ riches’
• Height: 15 to 20 feet
• Harvest Time: September to October

Riches Quince is a rounded, deciduous tree or shrub. The foliage is broadly ovate with dark green leaves that turn yellow in yellow in fall. It is suitable for all training forms. Plus, it grows up to an easily manageable height of 20 feet. All in all, it is easy to grow and maintain. Light pruning may be required.  

15. Van Deman Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ van deman’
• Height: 12 to 15 feet 
• Harvest Time: October-November

Van Deman is a beautiful ornamental tree that announces the arrival of spring with lovely white and extremely fragrant blooms. The fruit is closely related to pears and apples with a sweet and spicy flavor and subtle tartness. It is flavorful and perfect for cooking.

16. Serbian Gold Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ Serbian gold’  
• Height: Up to 13 feet 
• Harvest Time: Late September 

Native to Serbia, the Serbian Gold quince is locally known as “Leschovach.” It is one of the less vigorous cultivars. However, it is highly productive, yielding delicious quinces that are perfect for both cooking and preparing Quince Liqueur. The fruit is huge and incredibly fragrant.

17. Missouri Mammoth Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga’ Missouri mammoth’
• Height: 12 to 15 feet
• Harvest Time: Early September 

Missouri Mammoth quince is rapidly becoming a popular commercial variety, especially in Colorado and Utah. The tree produces very large, roundish oblate quinces of green color. The tree is not a very heavy producer, but the quality and texture of the fruit are very good.

18. Bereczki Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga ‘bereczki’ 
• Height: 12 to 15 feet
• Harvest Time: End October

The Bereczki Quince cultivar is one of the oldest varieties, dating back to the early 1800s. It produces big, juicy, pear-shaped fruits with a sweet acidic flavor. The flesh of Bereczki quince is yellow but turns reddish after cooking. Use well-drained soil for the best results.      

19. Ludovic Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga ‘ludovic’
• Height: 5 to 8 feet
• Harvest Time: October to November 

Ludovic Quince is one of the slow-growing varieties with attractive dark green and leathery foliage. Native to the eastern Mediterranean, this tree is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a reliable flow of fruit. Pale pink flowers usually appear in May, followed by apple-shaped fruits that turn green-gold upon ripening. Ludovic is a heavy producer.

20. Shams Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga ‘shams’
• Height: 12 to 15 feet 
• Harvest Time: October to November

Native to Iran, the Shams Quince tree produces rounded, pear-shaped fruits with deep-yellow, textured flesh. It is one of the sweet varieties. The flesh is harder than other cultivars and holds its shape even after prolonged cooking. For best results, grow your Shams quince tree in a warm climate and a sunny spot. 

21. Leskovac Quince Tree

• Cydonia oblonga ‘leskovac’
• Height: 8 to 13 feet 
• Harvest Time: Mid October 

Leskovac Quince is a small fruit tree. However, it is one of the hardiest varieties that are excellent for both fruit production and ornamental value. These trees are well suited for fan training against a wall. They also make an attractive border. Thanks to the manageable size, you can also grow them in containers for rooftop gardens and patios. The fruit is pear-shaped and highly fragrant.