flowering quince
Chaenomeles speciosa 'Contorta'
Overview
Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa 'Contorta') is an amazing shrub for any garden. Not only is it an attractive outdoor addition, its white and pink flowers will bloom in early spring before the leaves appear, adding a splash of colour to your garden before any other plants awaken to life. Its vibrant leaves contrast beautifully with its bright, five-petalled flowers. Its stems twist and curl, providing an interesting focal point. It's also drought-tolerant and doesn't require a lot of pruning, making it a great choice for gardeners who don't want to put in a lot of maintenance. With its beautiful springs blooms and interesting shape, the Flowering Quince is an amazing addition to any garden.
Care Guide
Watering
The Flowering Quince should be watered on a regular basis. In general, the plant should be watered deeply every 10 to 14 days during the growing season, from the onset of active growth in spring until the plant starts to enter its fall dormancy. During hot summer weather, you may need to water more often. If you experience a prolonged period of dry weather, you may need to increase the frequency and amount of water slightly. The soil needs to be consistently moist but not waterlogged. Overly wet soil can cause root rot. During winter, reduce watering to once a month, allowing the top couple of inches of soil to become dry before watering again.
Light
Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa 'Contorta') does best when grown in full sun, which means it should receive at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day. In areas with hot summers, providing some shade during the hottest hours of the day is recommended. Further, if grown in partial or full shade, flowering quince may not perform as well and may produce fewer flowers. Therefore, it is best to provide as much direct sunlight as possible for optimal performance of the flowering quince.
Temperature
Hardiness zone 4–8.
Pruning
Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa 'Contorta') should be pruned during late winter or early spring, just before the plant starts growing again. This species of flowering quince will benefit from light or moderate pruning to maintain a healthy compact shape. Remove dead or old branches, and lightly trim away errant shoots to maintain the desired shape. Don’t handle heavy pruning, as this could prevent flowering.
Propagation
Cutting, Layering Propagation, Grafting Propagation, Division, Seed Propagation
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