Chaenomeles cathayensis - Chinese Quince

Chaenomeles cathayensis is a very attractive Chinese cousin of the Japanese quince, too little known by gardeners. Taller, vigorous, hardy, and very thorny, it offers from the end of winter a flowering as delightful as it is abundant, covering its naked branches with double pink cups edged with bright pink. Then in October comes the time for harvest, abundant, made of large, fragrant, and edible yellow quinces, which have nothing to envy to the quinces in our orchards: fragrant, aromatic, they will delight jelly, jam, and apple pie lovers. Very accommodating regarding the nature of the soil, this quince tree finds its place in a flowering or defensive hedge, or even in a shrub bed.

Chaenomeles cathayensis is a bush native to China, from the Rosaceae family. In nature, it is found growing on slopes, on the edge of forests and by the roadside, at altitudes between 900 and 2500m (2953ft and 8202ft). This fairly fast-growing and somewhat stiff-growing bush forms a large bush almost as wide as it is tall, exceeding 2m (6ft 7in) in all directions. Its flowering, more or less early depending on the climate, extends from early March to April, for about 3 weeks. The very nectar-rich flowers, reaching 3 to 4cm (1.2 to 1.6in) in diameter, are composed of petals that are washed white with a raspberry pink reverse and edge. They slightly overlap, revealing a well-visible yellow stamen heart. The floral buds are quite a deep pink. Grouped in clusters, the flowers are borne on a very short or even absent pedicel, on the previous year's branches. They give way to pear-shaped fruits, measuring up to 14cm (5.5in) long and 8cm (3.1in) wide, green, turning yellow in autumn. They persist for a long time in winter on the naked branches, enhancing the charm of this bush in winter. These aromatic fruits are used in cooking, as well as in Chinese pharmacopoeia. They are edible when cooked and are preferably harvested after the first frosts. The leaves, deciduous, develop after the flowers; they are ovate to lanceolate, 5-9cm (2-3.5in) long and 1.5 to 3.5cm (0.6 to 1.4in) wide, with a beautiful shiny green on their upper surface, more glaucous on the reverse. At budburst, the young leaves are copper-coloured.

Asian quinces, like Forsythias, Abeliophyllum, and Japanese Kerrias, bring us beautiful flowers in their simplicity, so eagerly awaited after a long winter. They are at ease in all our climates, as they are not afraid of heat or cold. They can be cultivated both as solitary plants and in a shrub bed, and of course in a countryside hedge.

The Chinese quince can be associated with fragrant shrubs such as winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) which precedes it, white lilacs and mock oranges which will take over its flowering, followed by that of buddleias. This bush can also be part of a defensive hedge, with other Japanese quinces, botanical roses, blackthorn, hawthorn, or Poncirus trifoliata for example. Its still naked branches but filled with buds are also an opportunity for beautiful tall vase bouquets.