Appearance
Trees grow to 10–18 m tall, with a dense, twiggy crown. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, 6–12 cm long and 3–6 cm broad, and with serrated margin. The flowers are 2.5–4 cm diameter, with five pale pink petals; flowering is in mid spring. The fruit is a large ovoid pome 12–17 cm long with five carpels; it gives off an intense, sweet smell when it ripens in late autumn.
Naming
In China, both the tree and its fruit are called "mùguā", which also refers to papaya and the flowering quince "." In Korea the tree is called "mogwa-namu" and the fruit "mogwa", the Korean reading of the Chinese characters). In Japan, both tree and fruit are called "karin" except in medicine where the fruit is called "wa-mokka" from the Chinese and Korean names.
Uses
The fruit is hard and astringent, though it softens and becomes less astringent after a period of frost. It can be used to make jam, much like quince. In Korea, the fruit is used to make "mogwa-cheong" and "mogwa-cha".The fruit is also used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Chinese quince is also grown as an ornamental tree. In Haeju, North Korea two Chinese Quinces planted in 1910 are national monuments, being probably the tallest of specimens in the country.
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