Flowering quince braves the unpredictable early-spring weather to provide an explosion of color that arrives weeks before that of other spring-flowering shrubs.
Flowering quinces (Chaenomeles speciosa) are grown for their warm-colored flowers and thorny, gray-brown branches. Waxy flowers emerge before or during the first flush of growth in early spring -- anywhere from late January through March in the South, March and April in northern regions. Individual flowers are borne on the branches, looking something like apple blossoms in their form. Some have a single ring of petals, others many overlapping ones.
This deciduous, broadly spreading shrub grows anywhere from 6-10 feet tall and spreads as wide. The 1 1/2- to 3-inch leaves are bronzy in early spring before they turn dark, glossy green.
In fall, quinces produce hard, greenish-yellow fruit about 2 inches in diameter. The fruit is very astringent, so it's no good to eat raw. But it reportedly makes a tasty jelly or marmalade.
When in flower, the shrubs attract bees. Deer do not browse on flowering quince.
Landscape uses
Flowering quince is one of the best choices for a hedge or barrier planting where maintenance is minimal. Lower-growing types (3 feet or less) look good beneath windows or in shrub borders. Taller types (5-6 feet) are valuable as hedges, isolated specimens, borders and as espaliers to accent a wall or fence.
Quinces grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-10, but tend to suffer in more tropical areas such as
Since they begin growth so early in spring, it is advisable to plant quinces in the fall. For hedges, set them 2 1/2-4 feet apart. Transplanting is easy, but control suckers to avoid forming a thicket.
Quinces can be propagated in several ways. They can be started from softwood cuttings of new growth in late spring or early summer (use a rooting hormone and place under mist), from semihardwood cuttings of more mature growth in mid- or late summer, or from hardwood cuttings of dormant, leafless growth in fall or winter. Quinces can also be propagated by taking root cuttings, by digging up and replanting suckers, and by forcing a branch to grow roots by ground layering.
Watch for fire blight disease and leaf spot, which can be problems during wet periods, causing some defoliation but rarely permanent damage.
Prune out old canes and suckers every year. If flowering is sparse, try pruning the entire shrub to 6-12 inches above the soil. Prune in March to April, after flowering, so you don't impede flowering potential for the following year.
Cut branches can be forced in a warm room and used in arrangements if they're harvested before flowers are fully expanded.
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Specifics
Name: Chaenomeles speciosa
Common name: Flowering quince.
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 4-10.
Description: Deciduous, twiggy shrub with orange, coral, red, pink or white flowers in early spring. Greenish fruit. Leaves emerge bronzy in spring, but there's no fall color to speak of.
Dimensions: 6-10 feet tall and wide.
Growth rate: Less than a foot annually.
Cultivars: 'Cameo,' double, peach-colored blooms; 'Spitfire,' upright form with bright-red flowers; 'Contorta,' fascinating contorted growth habit gives winter interest.
Related species: C. japonica.
- Kevin Neal