Pseudocydonia sinensis

Pseudocydonia sinensis - Chinese quince

General information:
The Chinese quince is native to China and Korea. It is closely related to the ornamental quince (Chaenomeles) and the true quince (Cydonia oblonga). The Chinese quince grows to a height of 10 - 18 meters in the wild and grows like a tree or shrub. In autumn, the leaves turn various shades of red and yellow and stay on the tree for a very long time in mild temperatures. In spring, the quince produces pale pink flowers and the typical yellow quince fruit develops from them. The marbled bark structure is also very decorative on older trees.

Care as a bonsai:
In Japan, the Chinese quince is a very popular bonsai. Its vigorous growth, imposing trunk, delicate flowers, spectacular fruit and, last but not least, its autumn coloration are ideal characteristics for a bonsai. The plant species is very tolerant of pruning and quickly develops good branching. However, the branches must be wired early as they become very hard and inflexible with age. Quince is generally a robust plant, but it should be protected in winter or spring as the fresh roots are sensitive to frost. Plants grown from seed flower and bear fruit at around 8 years of age.