Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles
speciosa) is one of the earliest blooming shrubs in spring. The blossom
colors can be peachy-orange, red, pink, or white. Note that Flowering Quince is
not the same plant as the larger, fruit-bearing quince tree (Cydonia oblonga).
Flowering Quince is an Asian native and was once a very
popular garden shrub, but had fallen into disfavor. In recent years, new
cultivars, such as the ‘Double Take’ series, are bringing the plant back into
fashion again.
This shrub is not picky about soil type and is generally
drought-tolerant once established. It is hardy to zones 4 to 9 and prefers a
full sun location. It is a rose relative and has shiny, dark-green foliage that
emerges once the blooms shed.
This is a fairly tough plant. The only maintenance it needs
is regular pruning to keep the size in check and to keep the interior from
turning into a messy thicket. It can reach 10 feet high and wide, though there
are new dwarf forms now available from local garden centers.
A bit of a warning, Flowering Quince has sharp thorns, so be
careful when working around it. This trait does make it a useful shrub for
creating a security hedge or as a safe nesting spot for birds.
If you get impatient waiting for spring, the branches are
easily forced into bloom in late winter by cutting a few and placing them in a
vase filled with room temperature water indoors. It is also a great plant to
experiment with for bonsai or training into different forms.
Flowering Quince - You Can Grow That!
The video was produced
by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Visuals by Khloe Quill
Audio by Kathy Jentz
➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up
and subscribe to our Youtube
channel (thank you!)
➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new
videos are out
➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE
~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com
~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener
~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/
~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine
~Podcast: GardenDC
Does anyone know where to find Flowering Quince with a single flower in DC metro area? Meadows Farms and Merrifield only have double flowered types.
ReplyDeleteI do not know of any sources of the singles locally, aside from asking someone who has one for a cutting and seeing of that will easily root.
Delete