Chinese Quince
Pseudocydonia sinensis · Rosaceae · 모과나무
How to spot it
Bark peels in gray, green, orange and brown patches; large, fragrant yellow fruits.
(original photo, new tab)Bark · Photo 小石川人晃 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Look
- Leaves
- Alternate simple leaves, elliptic to ovate, with finely toothed margins.
- Flowers
- Fragrant pale pink flowers, white at the base, are cup-shaped.
- Fruit
- Large oval fruits ripen yellow in fall and are fragrant.
- Bark
- On mature trees the bark flakes off in gray, green and brown patterns.
Where it grows
- Native to
- Central and southern China.
- Ecology
- Tolerates poor soil and some drought, but prefers evenly moist, fertile loam.
Stories
Famous Chinese Quince trees in Korea
- Chinese Quince of Anui-ri, SamcheokProvincial Monument · about 600 years · Singi-myeon, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do
- Chinese Quince of Chungikmsa Shrine, UiryeongProvincial Monument · about 500 years · Uiryeong-eup, Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Chinese Quince of Gangcheonsa Temple, SunchangProvincial Monument · about 300 years · Paldeok-myeon, Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Chinese Quince of Ingok-ri, ChangwonProvincial Monument · about 250 years · Jinbuk-myeon, Masanhappo-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Chinese Quince of Yeonje-ri, CheongjuNatural Monument No. 522 · Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do