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| Just bought a new house in northern california. Could you help me identify this fruit tree? Are the fruits edible?
This is a small bushy tree about 10 feet high, there were some small thorns underneath the leaves. The fruits are about the size of an chicken egg, they are turning yellow and a small portion of the skin is turning a bit reddish now. Thanks a bunch. Pics can be found at: |
Here is a link that might be useful: Pics of the tree and leaves
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I believe it's an ornamental quince, Chaenomeles. Yes, the fruit are edible when fully ripe, although still astringent until cooked, so not something to eat raw out of hand. They will, however, make exquisite preserves, jellies, sauces, candies, etc, either alone or in combination with their apple or pear cousins. They ripen here quite late, in October, but in CA I'm guessing earlier, since the ones in the photo are already turning yellow. When fully ripe, they turn yellow/orange/reddish here. Possibly less colorful in a warmer climate. If you've never tasted quince, the flavor is overall similar to apple, but with sort of floral or wine-like notes/hints. Quite good. Very popular fruit in Mediterranean countries like Spain. |
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- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Sat, Jul 28, 12 at 22:08
| I second the quince. I have never seen one that big, but all of the ones that I have are hybrids developed for flower color and may not be such vigorous growers. As noted, you can make preserves from the fruit. Ripe ones here are yellow and probably not ripe until Sept or so. There is also a Chinese quince, Pseudocydonia sinensis, but its fruit is more lemon-shaped so I think that yours is Chaenomeles. Although different general they are both members of the rose family. |
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| Looks like Chaenomeles cathayensis. This is at the taller, more upswept and open-growing end of the scale, with C. japonica at the other end. |
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- Posted by neuGardener none (My Page) on Sat, Aug 4, 12 at 22:36
| thank you all, you guys are awesome! Just checked google image and cut a couple of fruits, they look exactly like Chaenomeles cathayensis. The fruits are turning pretty all yellow now in just a week. |
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| I know this one from seeing it at the Seattle arboretum and at Colvos Creek Nursery. |
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- Posted by ediblelandscaping.sc 7b-8 (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 2:08
| will you have any seeds you'll be willing to trade? |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 9:33
| the flowers on mine are a brilliant coral red/pink in early spring ... i have bitten into the fruit .. raw ... not on the approved list ... i have never tried the jelly.. nor try to make it.. but i usually say.. in regard to these fruits ... that 50 pounds of sugar.. will make a good jelly out of my boot.. lol .. ken |
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- Posted by neuGardener none (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 16:07
| @ediblelandscaping.sc, Sure, why not? each fruit has tons of seeds. I picked off two, and cut them open, they looked exactly like the one in the link below. And yes, the flowers were really beautiful, just as Ken said. |
Here is a link that might be useful: seeds of the fruit
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Tue, Aug 7, 12 at 8:12
| if i am not mistaken.. they are part of the greater the apple family ... and the seeds would be treated as such ... ken |
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- Posted by neuGardener none (My Page) on Thu, Aug 9, 12 at 12:41
| you are right. They both belong to the Rosaceae family. YZ |
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