Quince, An Early Bloomer
Most gardeners know this as Chaenomeles speciosa, (pronounced kee-NO May lees) commonly known as flowering quince. One of the first quince varieties introduced here in Virginia by English settlers and a native of Southeast Asia, it’s a member of the Rosaceae family replete with its own thorns. An effective barrier when planted in hedgerows, by 1720 Quince cultivation was thriving here in VA.
Drought resistant
Photo credit: Dave Banks, Master Gardener
Flowering Quince is a deciduous small flowering tree or large shrub with a long life if planted correctly (right plant, right place). The shrub can have a lifespan of up to 40 years when properly cared for. It is drought-resistant and the cultivars with brightly colored blooms attract hummingbirds. Plants are often damaged by rabbit feeding but are not particularly attractive to deer.
Beautiful Blooms
The quince flourishes in bright sunny spots in well-drained soil but can tolerate some shade, although it flowers less. An ideal plant If you have a home in zones 5-9. Look for the emergence of lovely delicate blossoms in a range of hues from white to pink, salmon, and scarlet in early spring for about 10 to 14 days. These delicate blossoms are arrangements of five petals on short shoots. The four-inch leaves are ovate, alternate, and usually a smooth grey-green with a fuzzy underside. if you need to prune your quince go lightly as the more you prune the less spectacular the floral display the following year.
Pectin
Photo credit: Markus Spiske, Unsplash.com
The astringent, unpalatable fruit which ripens hard, yellow, and tart following the bloom drop is most often combined with other cooked fruit which contains lower levels of pectin (structural acid). Pectin is present in all fruits but in different amounts and aids jelling in the canning process. Blueberries, strawberries, rhubarb, and pears, for instance, benefit from the addition of quince fruit to jams and jellies. This eliminates the need for extensive cooking or overcooking which destroys bright colors and fresh flavors.
Fun Facts
On a final note, quince is highly desired for Bonsai. Watch this short video on How to care for flowering quince bonsai, on YouTube. Also on YouTube, entitled Beautiful Quince. this video covers the basics of planting, growing, pruning, and harvesting quince. And here’s a very entertaining article by the New York Times entitled In Praise of the Misunderstood Quince,
Resources:
- Chaenomeles, Wikipedia.org
- Flowering Quince Plant Profile, Washington Gardener Magazine, May 24, 2021
- Flowering Quince, easternleaf.com
- How to care for flowering Quince, Masterclass.com, January 2023
- Plant of the Week, Gerald Klingman, uaex.uada.edu
- The Spruce, David Beaulieu, May 19, 2022