Chaenomeles is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the brown-tail and the leaf-miner Bucculatrix pomifoliella.

The names "japonica" or "Japanese quince" were (and still are) often loosely applied to Chaenomeles in general, regardless of their species.

[citation needed] Species accepted by the Plants of the World Online as of As of April 2023[update]:[2] Four named hybrids have been bred in gardens.

The species have become popular ornamental shrubs in parts of Europe and North America, grown in gardens both for their bright flowers and as a spiny barrier.

The fruits are suitable for making liqueurs, as well as marmalade and preserves, as they contain more pectin than apples and true quinces.