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James H. Schutte
Rosaceae
CHAENOMELES speciosa 'Rosea Plena'
Flowering Quince
First selected in 1878 by Swiss plantsman, Otto Froebel, flowering quince 'Rosea Plena' is most noted for its semi-double, coral pink blossoms. When in bloom this Chinese shrub is a beauty, but through the rest of the season it has a coarse, rambling, ungainly look. Flowering quince is a spiny, medium-sized, deciduous shrub most noted for its clusters of colorful, bowl-shaped flowers that cover the plant in early spring, both before and after the foliage emerges. These are followed by small quince fruits that are edible and best eaten cooked into preserves or jelly.
The glossy, oval leaves of this hardy shrub are deep green and have small teeth along the edges. The branches are armed with long thorns that are strong and can cause painful scratches. Pretty rosaceous blooms of coral pink are produced in spring, and yellowish, apple-shaped, ribbed 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.
9 - 1
5 - 9
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Shrub
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
3'-10' / 0.9m - 3.0m
4'-15' / 1.2m - 4.6m
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter
China
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
Medium
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Oval/Rounded
Spring, Winter
Showy
Pink, Coral
Yellow Green
Red, Green, Bronze
Dark Green
Brown
Yes
No
Semi-Double
Glossy
Smooth
Cutflower, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Birds
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