Flowering quince is a deciduous shrub of the Rosacea family native to China. The name comes from the Greek words chaino meaning to gape and melon meaning an apple, a misnomer in the incorrect belief that the fruits split open. Speciosa meaning showy and is the one most seen in southern home gardens. It is relatively easy to grow in spots with well-drained soil and medium moisture. It does not tolerate alkaline soil. It is tolerant of shade but will flower the most if placed in full sun. When mature this plant is mildly drought tolerant. Flowering quince is a showy plant in multiple ways. Around March and into April it will flower profusely with medium-sized, scarlet-red blooms. Like its common name suggests, this plant is a fruiting shrub and produces quince fruit. These fruits are normally considered inedible right off of the tree due to their being hard and bitter; however, they are used to create preserves and jellies and some people eat them after having them set out to ripen. The fruits are yellow-green in color and around 2.5 inches long. This plant will flower off of old growth and moderation in pruning is recommended if you desire fruit. Otherwise, this plant can be pruned heavily. Prune in the spring to shape and to stimulate the growth of flowering spurs for the next year. This will improve the next year's flowering but will reduce fruit production for the current year. Flowering quince is a tough, hardy plant that would make a great informal hedge. It is moderately salt-tolerant, and in comparison, it is more upright than its relative Japanese flowering quince. It has tangled and dense twiggy growth with spiny branches. Quick ID Hints : Broad, kidney-shaped stipules at leaf bases Flowers have 5 STALKED petals, appear before leaves Leaves are on dwarf shoots, alternate first year Shrubs are usually thorny, have cane-like growth Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Aphids can be a problem on stressed plants. Fire blight and scab susceptible. Chlorosis (yellowing of foliage) will occur if planted in high pH soils. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University More information on Chaenomeles .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Alternate, simple, glossy, dark green leaves; 1.5-3.5 in. long; bronzy red when first emerges; non-showy fall color. On pins, alternate, simple ovate to oblong to lanceolate, serrate; persistent stipules are broad and leafy, kidney-shaped.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Scarlet, red, pink, or white single to double flowers in late winter to early spring before leaves emerge. Solitary, pink-red-orange-yellow-white, scentless, to 2" dia; petals (5), rounded-obovate, large, stalked; sepals dentate; stamens(40-60) usually golden.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
an apple-shaped pome, yellow-green, speckled with small glandular dots, usually to 7 cm dia. an apple-shaped pome, yellow-green, speckled with small glandular dots, usually to 7 cm dia. Green but turns yellow in the fall, fuzzy skin but hard and astringently tart. Normally used to make quince jelly. 2"-2.5". An apple-shaped pome, yellow-green, speckled with small glandular dots, usually to 2.5" dia.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Slender, brownish, sometimes spiny.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China
Wildlife value
Is occasionally browsed by deer. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.