James H. Schutte
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
CHAENOMELES japonica 'Alpina'
Plant Common Name
Japanese Flowering Quince
General Description
A uniformly dwarf, alpine form of standard flowering quince, 'Alpina' is a long-cultivated type selected from seed collected on Japanese islands near Kyushu by the first director of Harvard's Arnold Arboretum, C. S. Sargent. Admired for its beautiful spring blooms, Japanese flowering quince is a spiny, compact to medium-sized, deciduous shrub native to Japan. Profuse clusters of small, salmon or orange, bowl-shaped flowers cover the plant very early in spring, before and after its smooth green leaves emerge. These are followed by gnarled, yellowish, apple-shaped fruits that are fully ripe by fall and may be used to make preserves or jelly. Of all the flowering quince species, this is considered the hardiest.
The smooth green leaves of Japanese flowering quince are oval and lined with coarse, crenate teeth. The branches are armed with short thorns that are strong and can cause painful scratches. Pretty rosaceous blooms of salmon pink or orange are produced in spring, and fragrant, yellowish, apple-shaped fruits ripen in the fall but offer no visual appeal.
The tough and adaptable flowering quince accepts a wide range of growing conditions but grows best in full sun and well-drained loam. Periods of winter cold are needed for good flowering and fruit set. Spring buds are often damaged by cold in its northernmost zones. This informal landscape shrub combines well with other early-bloomers, such as forsythias and early bulbs, and its cut branches can be forced into bloom in late winter. Many species are available that vary in size, habit and flower color.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 9
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Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm
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Width
18"-24" / 45.7cm - 61.0cm
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Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter
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Native To
Japan
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Red, Orange, Orange Red
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Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
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Fruit Color Modifier
Bicolor, Spotted/Mottled
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Dark Green
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Bark Color
Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
Yes
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Alpine, Container, Edging, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
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Sharp or Has Thorns
Yes
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Birds
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Self-Sowing
No