Chaenomeles japonica - Flowering Quince

The wild Japanese quince, in Latin Chaenomeles japonica, is a deciduous thorny bush, particularly robust, prized for its early and colourful flowering, essential in country or defensive hedges. It forms, along with Forsythia, a winning duo to bring colour to the garden in early spring. Its insolent red flowers bloom abundantly, just before its leaves. Self-sterile, the Japanese quince only bears fruit in the presence of another subject nearby. Its small quinces, yellow and fragrant when ripe, can be cooked into compote or jam. Very accommodating in terms of exposure and soil type, useful for small garden fauna, it naturally finds its place in a natural garden.

Chaenomeles japonica, from the Rosaceae family, is native to central and southern Japan. It is a thorny bush, spreading by suckers from its stump. It grows moderately fast, somewhat sparse in its youth, and eventually forms a ramified, tangled, almost impenetrable bush. Ultimately, the bush measures about 1.50m (4ft 11in) in height and 1.30m (4ft 4in) in width, sometimes less, depending on the growing conditions. Its flowering takes place from February to April, depending on the climate. It lasts for approximately 3 weeks. The very fragrant flowers, reaching 3 to 4cm (1.2 to 1.6in) in diameter, are cup-shaped and have a very bright red colour with a touch of pink. In the centre, there is a bouquet of yellow stamens. The flowers, grouped in 2 to 5 small clusters, emerge directly from the wood, at the nodes, on last year's branches. They give way to small rounded fruits, 3 to 4cm (1.2 to 1.6in) in size, which turn yellow in autumn. These aromatic fruits are used in Japanese pharmacopoeia but are not edible raw. The deciduous leaves develop almost simultaneously with the flowers; they are ovate to lanceolate, 3-6cm (1.2-2.4in) long and 1.5 to 3cm (0.6 to 1.2in) wide, with a beautiful bright green and shiny upper surface. 

The Japanese quinces offer us, just like Forsythias, Abeliophyllum, and Japanese kerrias, the most anticipated flowering after a long winter. They are comfortable in all climates, as they are not afraid of heat or cold. They can be grown both individually and in flower beds, and of course in a country hedge. The wild variety will accompany fragrant bushes such as winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), which precedes it, and modest-sized lilacs, which take over its flowering, followed by that of buddleias. In mild climates, it will go well with creeping Ceanothus and blue-flowered rosemary, as their flowering will mutually enhance each other. It can also be trained against a wall, near the house, married to a winter jasmine, to enjoy it every time you pass by. Its still bare branches, but filled with buds, are also an opportunity for beautiful tall vase bouquets.