Quince is a long-term planting — a young tree typically takes about three years to bear its first real fruit, and then produces for years. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9 and stands up to deer. Its spring flowers are a real draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the fruit is the prize. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
5-9
pH Range
5.5-7
Sun
Full Sun
To First Harvest
~3 yr
Score Quince on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether quince actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score quince against your land's real conditions.
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What Quince is
Quince grows as a perennial and reaches around 16 feet at maturity. It blooms white in spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Quince
Quince grows in USDA zones 5 through 9 and takes about three years to begin bearing. Quince does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,000 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 180 frost-free days, and about 300 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
To First Harvest
~3 years
Quince; low-chill cultivar typical; self-fertile. ~3 yr from grafted whip.
UC-Fruit; Penn-Tree
GDD Required
2000+
Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
16 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Chill Hours
300+
Winter hours below ~45°F it needs to fruit — too-mild winters can leave it bloom-shy.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
180+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Plant it right
Set quince in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Quince prefers pH 5.5 to 7 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Quince takes about three years to its first meaningful harvest (UC-Fruit; Penn-Tree). Prune annually while it establishes, and the tree will then crop for years.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — quince is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Quince is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators.
Before you harvest quince, know your soil
Anything you grow to eat takes up what's in the ground it grows in, so it's worth knowing what's documented near you before you plant quince for food. Our free screen reads 9 federal source types across roughly 1.8M indexed sites and shows which sit near your address and which way they drain. It's a screening estimate from public records and proximity — not a soil test — so a nearby record means a soil test is worth it, not that your soil is unsafe.
Where Quince thrives
Quince is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–9·Where Quince growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Quince can grow in these states:
See if Quince will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether quince actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Quince in my zone?
Quince grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long until Quince bears fruit?
Quince typically takes about three years after planting to bear its first real crop, then produces for years (UC-Fruit; Penn-Tree). Soil, climate, and rootstock all shift the timeline.
When should you plant Quince?
Set quince out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Quince need?
Quince needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Quince need?
Quince prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Quince attract pollinators?
Yes — quince's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees and native bees.
Is Quince safe for pets?
Quince is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)