Chaenomeles

( kee - NOM - el - eez )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly referred to as Flowering Quince, this genus of deciduous shrubs requires full sun and moderate to regular water to perform well in the garden. Hummingbirds will frequent this shrub in the yard. Flowering Quince typically blooms early in the season. so they are a very good choice to fill the landscape with color early in spring. Chaenomeles are used as a bonsai specimens and are also make beautiful cut flowers, blooming in water for weeks. Flower colors vary from white to pink, to orange and red. Leaves are red-tinged when they are young and mature to a shiny green. Most varieties have thorns, which makes them a good foundation or barrier planting. Use these shrubs and small trees in mixed beds and borders, in backyard orchards, or simply as specimens in the landscape for their beautiful early blooms.

Chaenomeles Species and Varietals

Chaenomeles is a genus in the plant family Rosaceae and includes just 4 species. The best zones to grow Flowering Quince are USDA hardiness zones 4-9 or Sunset growing zones 2-23 (To find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Chaenomeles cathayensis (Mugua Haitang, Mao Ye Mugua, Chinese Quince, Cathay Flowering Quince)
This species is native to China, Bhutan, and Myanmar. It forms a thorny deciduous shrub that reaches up to 20 feet tall when mature. Green leaves are pointed and often have toothed margins. Foliage is woolly underneath. Flowers are white or pink, and are followed by fragrant yellow-red fruits. This species does well in USDA hardiness zones 4-8.

Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese Quince, Maule's Quince, Kusa Boke)
This species, native to Japan, forms a deciduous, thorny shrub that reaches to over three feet tall when mature. It is known for its springtime flowers, which can be red, white, or multicolored. Leaves are toothed and green, and appear after flowers in springtime. These shrubs will bloom again in summertime, though not as profusely as they do in spring. Fruits are yellow-gold and about 1.5-3 inches in diameter. Best in USDA zones 5-9.

Chaenomeles speciosa (Flowering Quince, Chinese Quince, Japanese Quince)
This species reaches up to 7 feet tall when mature, and is either deciduous or semi-evergreen, depending on where it is cultivated. Individual plants have a twining habit and showy flowers which emerge in very early spring before leafout. Flowers can be white, pink or red, followed by fruits that ripen to a golden yellow color. This species does well when grown in USDA hardiness zones 4-9. Commonly grown cultivars include 'Geisha Girl' (with salmon-pink flowers), 'Moerloosei' (with scarlet flowers), and 'Pink Lady' (with pink blooms).

Caring for chaenomeles

Plant Flowering Quince shrubs or trees in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. When these plants are grown in less light, they will not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants perform well in consistently moist soils. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. Flowering Quince can handle some drought conditions, but will perform and produce best with regular waterings.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These shrubs bloom on old wood, so only prune to shape as required, and make cuts after flowers have faded for the season. These shrubs gradually spread through suckering; these suckers will need to be removed to discourage spreading behavior. Chaenomeles shrubs are considered long-lived perennial shrubs and trees, and can live for several decades to over a century in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Harvesting Chaenomeles (Quince)
These shrubs produce edible fruits that are almost always cooked before eaten due to their hard texture and sour, bitter flavor. They are softened by cooking and also become more aromatic, and are used in jams, jellies, baked goods, and even savory dishes. Fruits are typically ripe in October or November, before the first frost of the year. Fruits should attain their ripe color before they are harvested, which is normally golden-yellow but can vary depending on the species grown. See the species descriptions above for more information. Using clean, sharp shears, snip the fruit from its attachment to the branch. Handle fruit gently to avoid bruising it. After harvesting, fruits can be rinsed of any dust or debris, and then cooked.

Chaenomeles shrubs are also known for their cut flowers, which last for a very long time in arrangements. They are in bloom from late winter to early spring, and flowers appear before leafout. Choose branches for cutting that have buds that are just beginning to open up. The best time to harvest is in the morning, after dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in. Using clean, sharp shears, cut stems at a 45 degree angle just above a node. Drop the harvested flower stems into a bucket of cool water, and then bring them indoors to arrange them.

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.

Propagation

Chaenomeles can be propagated either by using semi-hardwood cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Flowering Quince, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Chaenomeles by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late summer or early fall, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a branch of the previous year's growth. It should be partially green, partially woody. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Score the bottom of the cutting, making cuts in the hardwood, and dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone. Plant it in your hole, and fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, for another month, when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Chaenomeles by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Flowering Quince seeds are contained inside the fruiting bodies produced by the shrub. Once these fruits have yellowed and softened, they can be picked, cut open, and their seeds can be removed.
Seeds need to be cold-stratified before they can be planted. We can mimic the process by storing them in a cold refrigerator for between 60 and 90 days. After this process, they can be sown in soil.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 1-4 months from sowing.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.