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Chaenomeles japonica

Phonetic Spelling
kee-nah-MAH-leez juh-PON-ih-kuh
Description

Although Japanese Flowering Quince is a showy, low maintenance shrub, it is typically not available for purchase commercially, as it is not as ornamental as other Chaenomeles cultivars and hybrids. The habit is open and wide spreading with an interlacing network of thorny stems.

The orange to orange-red blooms appear in late winter on bare stems and may remain during the leafing out period.  The bright blooms are complemented by creamy-white stamens.

For the best flowering, locate this plant in full sun.   Pruning should be accomplished in the spring after flowering is complete, as blooming takes place on old wood.  Pruning in the spring will also stimulate growth for more blooms the following year.  Avoid severe pruning.  

This plant spreads by suckers.  Removing them will help control spread it that is not desired.  

The fruits are edible, although have a bitter taste when eaten raw.  They can be used in making jellies and other preserves.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Years with heavy rainfall may cause fungal leaf spot, which can cause defoliation.  New growth can be affected by aphids.  Occasionally, scale and mites may be an issue.  Its framework of spiny stems can be a catch-all for debris.  

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Children's Secret Garden at Wilson Botanical Gardens
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Atsuya Hamada'
'Atsuya Hamada'
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#drought tolerant#deciduous shrub#spring flowers#erosion control#clay soils tolerant#bee friendly#landscape plant sleuths course
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Atsuya Hamada'
'Atsuya Hamada'
Tags:
#thorns#deciduous#drought tolerant#deciduous shrub#spring flowers#erosion control#clay soils tolerant#bee friendly#landscape plant sleuths course
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Chaenomeles
    Species:
    japonica
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Japan, South Korea
    Edibility:
    The fruit is edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Open
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Spines
    Thorns
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    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
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Pome
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Fragrant, 1.5 in. greenish-yellow fruit ripen in the fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Orange
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Orange-red, scarlet, pink, white, or red flowers in spring
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate, simple, lustrous, dark green leaves; 1-2 in. long
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Gray-brown densely branched stems.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Problems:
    Spines/Thorns