Chaenomeles, Genus, spp., Multiple species,
- Genus
- Multiple species
flowering quinces
eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar)
Overview
Chaenomeles is a genus of three to five species of deciduous, usually spiny shrubs in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to eastern Asia. Plants form dense, twiggy, spreading mounds 3 to 10 feet (0.9 to 3 m) tall and wide, with tangled branches that often bear sharp spines. The cup-shaped flowers, 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) across, open in late winter and early spring before or with the emerging leaves, in shades of red, scarlet, pink, orange, and white depending on the species and cultivar. The glossy leaves are dark green and oval with toothed margins. After flowering, plants set hard, aromatic, apple- to pear-shaped fruits 1.5 to 3 inches (4 to 8 cm) long that ripen yellow-green in fall and are used cooked in preserves, being too astringent to eat raw. The genus tolerates a wide range of soils, cold, and drought once established, but the spiny branches and suckering habit can make plants hard to manage in small spaces. Chaenomeles flowers on old wood, so the timing of pruning affects the following year's bloom.
Native Range
Chaenomeles is native to eastern Asia, with species occurring in China, Japan, Korea, and Myanmar. C. speciosa comes from China and C. japonica from Japan; both have been cultivated in their home regions for centuries and widely planted elsewhere.Suggested Uses
Chaenomeles is used as a flowering hedge, barrier, and border shrub, the spiny growth forming a stock- and intruder-resistant boundary. It is also trained flat against walls and fences as an espalier. Plants are spaced 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) apart for hedging and produce branches cut for early indoor bloom.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 10'
Bloom Information
Chaenomeles blooms in late winter and early spring, mainly March and April, often before the leaves expand. Flowering lasts about two to three weeks and is among the earliest of the flowering shrubs. Cut branches in bud force readily into bloom indoors.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
red, scarlet, pink, orange, or whiteFoliage Description
glossy dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Chaenomeles grows in full sun to part shade in average, well-drained soil and adapts to clay, loam, and sandy ground across a wide pH range. Established plants tolerate cold, heat, and drought and need little routine care. Flowering and fruiting are heaviest in full sun; in shade plants bloom sparsely and grow open and leggy. Chlorosis can develop on shallow, chalky soils. Plants sucker from the base and spread into thickets over time. Common problems include fireblight and, in some regions, a leaf spot that causes early leaf drop.Pruning
Chaenomeles flowers on the previous year''s wood, so it is pruned right after flowering in spring. Older stems can be thinned to the base to open the dense interior and renew the shrub, and suckers can be removed to limit spread. Light shortening of the long shoots after bloom encourages flowering spurs along the stems.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons
