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Japanese Quince vs Loving Pear
Chaenomeles japonica
Pyrus Loving
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
Japanese Quince has bright, orange to red showy flowers that bloom in early spring. The flowers appear before the leaves and may continue to bloom after leaves emerge. Flowers grow on old wood, so pruning after flowering will help to promote new growth next spring. They produce yellow-green fruit that taste bitter when eaten raw, typically they are better suited for making preserves.
It can be used as a stand alone ornamental shrub, as a low hedge, or can be trained to grow against a wall. In late winter, branches of Japanese Quince can be cut and brought indoors where they will bloom on their own. They are deer and rabbit tolerant. The branches are spiny making them well suited for keeping unwanted wildlife away.
Note: This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Japanese Quince seeds at SeedTime.ca.
Loving Pear is a Russian pear variety with a mild sweet flavor and a hint of sour. It is known for being cold hardy and disease resistant. They are green in colour but will transition to have a slightly golden red blush when ripe. With a minimal neck, they have a more rounded appearance.
They ripen in early September. It is recommended that they are harvested as the seeds begin to brown. They can finish ripening after picking. They keep well in cold storage and are suited for fresh eating, juicing, and dehydrating.
The Loving Pear requires a second variety for cross pollination. Some compatible varieties include Krazulya, Golden Spice, and others.