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The true quince is an attractive tree with large soft pink, dog rose type flowers and beautiful golden fruit. The fruit is hard, acid and astringent and so cannot be eaten raw but is excellent for jelly and flavouring apple pies.
The medlar makes an attractive tree of weeping habit with large white flowers. The fruit resembles a large, russetty rose hip and is eaten when ‘bletted’, i.e. partially rotted. It has a pleasant caramel flavour and can also be made into jelly.
Quince and medlars are best grown as bushes. A bush will grow to about 3.5-4.5m (12-15ft) in height and should be planted 3.5-4.5m (12-15ft) apart.