Flowering Quince — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Chaenomeles speciosa |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 60–90 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 12.8–18.3 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 730–1095 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 121.9–243.8 |
| Mature height (cm) | 91.4–243.8 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 121.9–243.8 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 4–9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Low |
| Sowing method | Cutting |
Growing directions
Plant in any well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun; flowering quince is one of the earliest-blooming ornamental shrubs of the temperate garden — producing brilliant flowers in red, scarlet, orange, salmon, pink, or white directly on the bare, thorny stems in late winter and very early spring (February–March in the mid-South), often through snow. The dense, interlocking thorny growth makes it an impenetrable barrier hedge as well as an ornamental specimen. After the flowers, the shrub produces hard, green to yellow-green quincelike fruits 2–3 inches across that are not particularly palatable raw but make excellent jelly, preserves, and liqueurs — a quality long exploited in Japanese and Chinese cuisine. The fruits are high in pectin, which makes them particularly valuable for preserving, and have an intense quince fragrance when ripe. Extremely cold-hardy, drought-tolerant once established, and adaptable to a wide range of soils. The many named cultivars span the full color range from pure white ('Jet Trail') to deepest blood-red ('Crimson and Gold').
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
OpenPlantDB · chaenomeles-speciosa
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0