How big does Japanese quince grow?

About 1 m × 1.5 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.6–1 m × 0.9–2 m.

What soil does Japanese quince grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, acidic.

Is Japanese quince hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Japanese quince toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

How far from the house should Japanese quince be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

When does Japanese quince flower?

Flowering: March–April, orange, red.

How much water does Japanese quince need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Japanese quince cost?

It sells for roughly €4.50 to €9.90 in local shops, depending on size.

Japanese quince

Chaenomeles japonica

Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) is a shrub that reaches 1 m × 1.5 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €4.50.

Illustration of Japanese quince — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Japanese quince is a knee to waist high, wide-spreading thorny shrub that covers itself in orange-red flowers in early spring before the leaves, a good early source for bees. In autumn it ripens yellow, fragrant fruits like small quinces that are hard and very sour raw but make excellent jelly, jam and syrup; the cultivar sold for its fruit is 'Cido'. Most plants set little fruit with their own pollen, so plant two different cultivars or seedlings side by side. It is drought tolerant and undemanding, but it creeps slowly by suckers and its leaves yellow on strongly limy soil.

Watch out for

It is susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora), a dangerous bacterial disease of apple, pear and quince in Central Europe: cut blackened shoots with hooked tips back into healthy wood and preferably do not plant it close to pome fruit trees. In wet springs leaf spot and scab can cause early leaf drop, and aphids feed on the new growth. On strongly limy, alkaline soil it turns yellow from iron deficiency (chlorosis). Late frosts can kill the early flowers, and then there is no fruit either. Wind-blown litter and leaves get caught in the dense thorny branches, and pruning it without gloves is unpleasant.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 1 m × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–April, orange, red

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	0.6–1 m × 0.9–2 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–April, orange, red
Harvest	September–October
Self-fertile	no
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €4.50

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
20+ cm	approx. €8
size not stated	approx. €4.50 – €9.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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Shrubs for part shade Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant shrubs Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Plants that are non-toxic to children Shrubs for pollinators Low-maintenance shrubs Flowering shrubs Low shrubs Plants with edible fruit

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Japanese quince vs Chinese flowering quince Japanese quince vs Flowering quince

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