Fruit
Japanese quince
Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ex Spach · flowering quince, japonica, Maule's quince · Polish: Pigwowiec japoński
Edible
How to identify it
- Low, prickly shrub (1–2 m), the shoots often with thorns.
- Salmon-pink or orange-red flowers in early spring (April–May), often before the leaves.
- Fruits pale yellow, sometimes flecked with red, shaped like small apples; hard, sour and astringent.
- The fruits ripen from late August/September to mid-October.
Where it grows
A shrub native to Japan, grown in Poland in gardens and plantations (it can be grown throughout the country).
In the kitchen and the home medicine cabinet
It is mainly Japanese quince that is used to make the ‘quince nalewka’ (pigwówka) popular in Poland, as well as syrup, preserves, jams, jellies and juices; slices in sugar as a substitute for lemon in tea, candied and dried fruit. Not very pleasant raw.
Caution Japanese quince is often confused with common quince (Cydonia oblonga) — a different genus. Pick from your own garden or with the owner's permission.
Frequently asked questions
When is Japanese quince in season?
In Poland, usually in September, October.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Pigwowiec japoński
- InHort (Instytut Ogrodnictwa – PIB), S. Pluta: Pigwowiec (Jagodnik, 2024)
Last checked: 9 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to us.
