For many years and up to the present I have worked with many people and their gardens over the years. In the late winter early spring I hear “ooh look the japonica is flowering” I often use to look around and just wonder what they were talking about. In this case and most commonly my clients are talking about Chaenomeles. Chaenomeles japonica. The Japonica basically means that it comes from Japan. It can also be known as Japanese quince, flowering quince or even the Maule’s quince.
Chaenomeles, is a medium size deciduous shrub, having a height of around 3-4 feet and a spread of 5-7 feet. They are also a suckering shrub. They producing fairly nondescript green leaves that turn yellow in autumn before falling. It also produces rather significate thorns within the shrub so, be aware of this when pruning. Chaenomeles will grow in any
aspect of the garden and in full sun to light shade. These shrubs flower predominantly in the late winter early spring period. The flowers depending on variety can be red, white, orange, pink and lemony colours. Also depending on variety, the flowers and either single or semi double. These shrubs are a good early source of nectar for early pollinators on sunny day. In the autumn as the leaves fall on some varieties small the large apple shaped yellow fruits appear. From these fruits that are highly fragrant you can make a type of Japanese quince jelly. I have made it as it was described and lemony. I found no such thing. It did make a nice well-set jelly but, the taste was not good. These shrubs can be trained on a wall or clipped as bushes in the garden.
Prune these shrubs immediately after flowering and this will encourage new growth and flowers to form for the following years display. In older plants prune out 20% of the older growth to the base to encourage new younger growth. New flowers form from spur growth much like an apple or pear etc. If you have wall trained your bush then tie in new growth and remove the older growth where you have tied in the new.
Here are some notable commonly grown varieties;
Crimson and Gold – rich deep red flowers with lovely gold anthers.
Speciosa Giesha Girl – A semi double in salmon.
Jet Jrial – beautiful clear white flowers.
Speciosa Moelooserii – a lovely free flowering single pink and white coloured flowers.
Superba Pink Lady – nice shade of pink.
Superba Orange Beauty – single rich orange flowers
