noun
Japanese quince; flowering quince
Refers to the shrub Chaenomeles speciosa, known for its early spring blossoms. Often written in kana. Related to but distinct from the quince fruit (マルメロ).
See also: マルメロ
庭にボケの花が咲いている。
Japanese quince flowers are blooming in the garden.
ボケは春先に赤や白の花をつける。
The flowering quince produces red or white blossoms in early spring.
Kanji form is rare and may be confused with other readings such as もっか or きゅうり. The reading ぼけ is a gikun (special kanji reading).
マルメロ is the quince fruit (Cydonia oblonga), while ボケ is the ornamental flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa).
The origin of the name ぼけ is uncertain. The kanji 木瓜 literally mean 'tree melon', but this is a jukujikun reading not reflecting the word's derivation.