Flowering quince grows best in a wide range of climates and even thrives in zones with frigid winters.
The shrub requires full sun and loamy, slightly acidic soil.
Flowering Quince Care
Here are the main care requirements for growing the easy-going flowering quince shrub.
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Light
Grow flowering quince shrubs infull sun.
Soil
Plant flowering quince shrubs in well-drained loam for the best flowering display.
Water
Mulch the base of the shrubs to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.
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Water in the morning so excess moisture has time to dry before evening.
Sprayed water can cause leaf spots, and leaves may drop if the foliage stays wet.
Some notable varieties include:
Several hybrid crosses betweenC.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
japonica(Japanese quince)are also excellent landscape plants.
Propagating Flowering Quince
Propagating flowering quince is done through rooting stem cuttings or planting seeds.
And remember that the plants will not be especially attractive after the spectacular bloom period is over.
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Use a large, heavy pot with good drainage.
Fill the pot with a standard commercial potting mix.
Blending in some additional sand may help the potting mix drain better.
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Potted flowering quince plants generally need to be repotted every two to three years.
Once mature, this protection is usually not needed.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Aphidscan badly damage new growth but the damage is not life-threatening.
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Other insect pests includescaleand mites.
Where necessary, spraying with horticultural oil orneem oilcan combat these pests.
Spraying with fungicide can help with these fungal diseases.
Fire blight is a bacterial disease that causes branches to die back one by one.
Oozing cankers may also appear.
There is no cure for fire blight but affected limbs should be removed and destroyed.
Even here, the bloom period is rarely more than two or three weeks, at most.
Expect the flowers to last an average of about 10 to 14 days.
What Do Flowering Quince Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Flowers measure about 2 inches in diameter and have a lovely fragrance.
In addition, badly timed pruning can also snip off the flower buds and ruin the bloom season.
This can often be rectified with an annual feeding with an acidifying fertilizer.
A more permanent solution is to amend the soil with elemental sulfur, which lowers soil pH.
Drab Appearance
Homeowners are sometimes disappointed by the lack of year-round appeal of these shrubs.
In large mixed borders, it can provide an early spring accent.
The fruit from quince shrubs (especially the relatedC.
japonica) can be used in jams and jellies.
It is considered less ornamental thanC.
Many of the so-called Japanese quince plants are not pure species, but rather hybrids betweenC.
No, flowering quince is not named on any state or national invasive plant lists.
The shrub produces yellowish-green fruits that can be used in preserves and jellies.
The flowering quince fruits are edible after they have ripened but are bitter right off the shrub.
Mengelm K, Geurtzen, G.Iron Chlorosis on Calcareous Soils.
Chaenomeles speciosa.North Carolina State Extension.
Plant Propagation by Stem Cuttings.North Carolina State Extension.
