Flowering Quince Care: How To Care For A Japanese Flowering Quince


Japanese flowering quince shrubs (Chaenomeles spp.) are a heritage ornamental plant with a brief, but memorably dramatic, floral display. Flowering quince plants light up the spring for a few weeks with a blaze of colorful blooms. This species is an old one, and has been cultivated in Asia for thousands of years. A member of the rose family, it arrived in the United States in the 1800’s, a favorite on farms because of its edible fruit. It helps that flowering quince care is easy and doesn’t take up much of a gardener’s time.
Japanese Flowering Quince Shrubs
Today, most American gardeners who are growing Japanese flowering quince do so for the spring blossoms. The bright flowers erupt into bloom in March or April in vibrant shades of pink, white, orange or red that only last a few weeks. Some cultivars offer a few flowers again in autumn. Various species and cultivars exist, but the common flowering quince plants are most commonly planted. Common Japanese flowering quince shrubs grow to 10 feet (3 m.) tall and equally wide. They are thorned plants, so they serve well in a defensive hedge or along a property borderline. Although the fruits of flowering quince plants are edible, the fruit is very tart. You can make a jelly from the quince fruit, or simply leave a fruit in the house to provide a piquant fragrance. This shrub also differs from the quince fruit tree, which is commonly grown for its fruit.
How to Care for a Japanese Flowering Quince
Those who want to know how to care for a Japanese flowering quince are happy to learn that these are easy-care plants. They tolerate urban conditions and withstand drought stress. Growing Japanese flowering quince is not difficult, since these shrubs are tough and undemanding. They grow in sun or partial shade and accept most soils other than very wet ones. They will grow faster and bloom better if you provide irrigation during dry periods. The shrubs form compact and virtually impenetrable hedges. They are perfect territory for sheltering bird nests and the homes of other small wildlife. The most difficult task in flowering quince care is pruning a bush planted in too small a location to accommodate its full, mature size. On the other hand, flowering quince do accept severe pruning without problem, so don’t hesitate to cut the shrub down to the size you want.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free copy of our e-book "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes".
Teo Spengler is a master gardener and a docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, where she hosts public tours. She has studied horticulture and written about nature, trees, plants, and gardening for more than two decades. Her extended family includes some 30 houseplants and hundreds of outdoor plants, including 250 trees, which are her main passion. Spengler currently splits her life between San Francisco and the French Basque Country, though she was raised in Alaska, giving her experience of gardening in a range of climates.
-
Best Tomatoes For Containers: 10 Tastiest Varieties For Plentiful Produce In Compact Areas
These are the best tomatoes for containers that prove you don't need to have a large space or elaborate garden to grow delicious produce.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Ultimate Potted Flowers For Spring: 8 Brilliant Blooming Options for Spring Containers
Celebrate the most uplifting of seasons with the most dazzling container flowers imaginable. Here, we present some of the loveliest potted flowers for spring…
By Tonya Barnett
-
Common Flowering Quince Diseases And Pests
Flowering quince is a beautiful ornamental shrub with dazzling and unusual blooms. But it can fall prey to problems. Click for more.
By Teo Spengler
-
Flowering Quince Companion Plants: Learn About Quince Companions For Gardens
There are many flowering quince companions that will accent its spring beauty and screen the winter spikiness of its bare branches. This article will get you started with some suggestions on what to plant with flowering quince shrubs.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Flowering Quince Propagation: How To Propagate A Flowering Quince Bush
A row of flowering quince shrubs can get quite pricey. That said, propagating quince from cuttings or other means can allow you to grow more of the plant for less. Learn how to propagate a flowering quince bush from cuttings, layering or seed here.
By Darcy Larum
-
Flowering Quince Pruning: Tips On Pruning A Flowering Quince
Although flowering quince generally requires little maintenance, pruning this shrub is essential to helping it develop ample flowering and fruiting. For more information about flowering quince pruning, this article will help.
By Teo Spengler