The quince is the sole member of the genus Cydonia in the family Rosaceae. It is a deciduous tree that bears a pome fruit, similar in appearance to a pear, and bright golden-yellow when mature. Throughout history the cooked fruit has been used as food, but the tree is also grown for its attractive pale pink blossoms and other ornamental qualities.

Owoce pigwy podobne są do jabłka, zarówno rozmiarami, wyglądem, jak i budową wewnętrzną. U nowych odmian pigwy potrafią jednak rosnąć większe i osiągają nawet 1 kg