Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Smyrna quince (Cydonia oblonga 'Smyrna')cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Smyrna quince, quince 'Smyrna'.

More about smyrna quince

About Smyrna quince

Cydonia oblonga 'Smyrna' · also called Smyrna quince, quince 'Smyrna' · edible

A self-fertile quince cultivar producing large, pear-shaped, lemon-yellow aromatic fruits that ripen in September–October. Best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and a warm, sheltered position. Hardy to USDA zone 5, it crops in 2–3 years and yields abundantly once established. Seeds contain cyanogenic compounds and should be removed before eating.

Cold limit: USDA 5-9 · RHS H5 (-15 to 35°C)

What smyrna quince's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — smyrna quince is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H5 and USDA 5-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H5 means: Hardy in most of the UK and in cold winters. On the US scale that maps to USDA 5-9 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −15 to −10 °C. Smyrna quince is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for smyrna quince as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −15 to −10 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can smyrna quince go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 5-9 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when smyrna quince can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H5 figure above.

Smyrna quince hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is smyrna quince cold hardy?

Yes — smyrna quince is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H5 and USDA 5-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Smyrna quince is hardy across USDA 5-9; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature smyrna quince can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −15 to −10 °C. Smyrna quince is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is smyrna quince?

Smyrna quince is rated USDA 5-9 and RHS H5 — Hardy in most of the UK and in cold winters.

Can smyrna quince survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 5-9 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to smyrna quince below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −15 to −10 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.