Quince (Cydonia) Vranja Half Standard

'Vranja' is one of the most popular quinces for British gardens, valued for its heavy crops and its beauty through the seasons. Grown as a half standard, it has a clear, straight stem topped with a broad, rounded crown. That makes it a handsome specimen for a lawn, border or small orchard, with space beneath to mow or underplant. In spring the branches are covered in large, pink-tinged blossoms up to 5cm across, set against leaves with soft grey undersides. In autumn the tree bears large, pear-shaped quinces that ripen from green to a glowing golden yellow, with a rich fragrance that can scent the whole garden. Pick the fruit in October and store it somewhere cool, away from other fruit, because its strong perfume can taint apples and pears. The fruit is too hard to eat raw, but slow cooking transforms it into fragrant jellies, jams, membrillo and purées. A few slices also add a lovely perfume to apple pies and crumbles. It is self-fertile, so a single tree will crop well on its own.

Plant in full sun in a warm, sheltered spot, ideally facing south or west, because the blossom is susceptible to frost and the fruit needs warmth to ripen well. Quinces tolerate a wide range of soils, including clay, but do best in deep, moisture-retentive ground that doesn't become waterlogged. Improve poorer soil with well-rotted compost or manure before planting, stake firmly, and water well while the tree establishes and during dry spells. Little pruning is needed beyond removing dead, damaged or crossing branches in winter and rubbing out any shoots that appear on the clear stem. The seeds contain toxins, so remove them before cooking, and keep fallen fruit away from pets. It is hardy across most of the UK (RHS H5). Size depends on the rootstock, with the RHS giving a height and spread of 2.5–4m within 10–20 years.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.