They require 4 to 6 years to begin cropping. They may be planted at closer spacings and will remain smaller than nonspur trees. All common varieties are the larger nonspur type. They have very firm fruit with many stone cells in the flesh, which give them a gritty texture and limit their use mainly to processing. However, the hard pears are much more tolerant of fire blight.
Japanese types are generally round and similar to apples in shape.
Chinese types are typically pyriform in shape like European pears. Orange is the primary variety of fruiting quince grown. Plant characteristics are somewhat like the apple and pear, but fruit are quite hard and normally used only for processing into jellies and jams. Not many peento varieties are grown, but new ones are being introduced. Most Southeastern varieties are similar but have more American germ plasm in them to instill more disease resistance.