Scarlet Storm is a medium-sized, upright to rounded, multi-stemmed shrub with a mature height of approximately 4-5 feet. It will bloom best in full sun though will tolerate some partial shade. It is an excellent spring accent plant and one of the only early spring red blooms with eye-popping color that can be spotted from a mile away. Large, scarlet red, double flowers with velvety petals burst forth in early spring. This hybrid is fruitless and thornless. Unlike many flowering quinces, ‘Scarlet Storm’ tends to have flowers out to the tips of its branches. Branches with unopened flower buds can be clipped and forced to bloom for some showy indoor color. Double Take quinces often rebloom in fall for some surprising color late in the season. Prune as needed to remove dead or broken branches and improve shape in the spring after flowering. This will stimulate growth to improve blooming for the following year. Keep in mind that flowers appear on old growth. Promptly remove any root suckers to control unwanted spread. Scarlet Storm withstands a range of soil types including heavy clay but prefers well-drained loams. Established plants will tolerate dry soils. It does well in high erosion areas like slopes. Flower buds are susceptible to damage from early spring frosts so a protected site is ideal. In warmer areas, some afternoon shade will help flowers last longer. Insects and Diseases: Maybe susceptible to fungal leaf spot with heavy spring rainfall. Fireblight and scab may be problematic in some areas, also aphids, scale and mites. Chlorosis (yellowing of foliage) will occur in high pH soils.
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy dark green leaves.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Cup; Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
2-inch dark scarlet red, velvety double flowers that resemble camellias with 17 to 25 petals per flower. Flowers emerge early spring before leaves and extend to the tips of branches. Branches may be clipped and forced for winter bloom. Blooms on old wood so do not over prune in the spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden