Chaenomeles speciosa Lemon Sorbet - Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Hillcha1' Lemon Sorbet is captivating with its abundant, large, very original lemon-yellow flowers. From March to May, the shrub is covered in delightful flowers, which also provide an early source of nectar for garden insects. In summer, its beautiful, pure, satiny green foliage contrasts with the dark twigs. In autumn, it produces ornamental greenish fruits, which persist after leaf fall. With few thorns, this very hardy shrub proves easy to grow in most situations. Plant it in a border, as a low hedge, or even as a specimen on a lawn.

Chaenomeles is a member of the Rosaceae family, which includes approximately 5000 species of wild plants, ornamental plants (including Roses of course), and most of the fruit trees of our temperate climates (Cherry trees, Apple trees, Peach trees, Raspberry plants...). Closely related to the fruiting Quince (Cydonia oblonga), Japanese Quince or Chaenomeles speciosa is by far the most widely cultivated ornamental species, very popular in France since the years 1875-1880 when the famous breeder Lemoine of Nancy introduced his own selections to the market.
Lemon Sorbet is a modern hybrid that brings the charm of an unusually soft colour, in contrast to the bright pinks or reds of the classic range. This medium-sized, horticultural variety reaches about 1.50 m in all directions in 10 years, and without pruning, can reach a height of 2 m, or even more. It is very bushy and branches easily, producing relatively few thorns, which makes it easier to use near pathways without too much risk of injury. It begins producing its magnificent, charmingly romantic flowers early in spring, from March, before the leaves appear. Measuring more or less 5 cm in diameter, they are semi-double to double and cup-shaped. The numerous rounded and recurved petals surround a centre of stamens with golden anthers, in perfect colour harmony with the corolla. A refreshing green-yellow when opening, becoming pale yellow, then lemon yellow as it matures. Flowering continues until May, in perfect harmony with the beautiful, pure, glossy green foliage that has now appeared. The lanceolate leaves are quite small (3 to 6 cm), which emphasises the size of the flowers. These are not only very decorative but also nectar-rich, so useful for biodiversity. After fertilisation, they produce decorative greenish fruits in autumn to extend the ornamental interest of the plant, clearly visible on the bare wood after leaf fall.

Easy to grow in most soils, in sun or even partial shade and hardy down to -20°C, Japanese Quince Lemon Sorbet is the archetypal beginner's plant. Create a pastel harmony by planting Stinking Hellebore at its feet, whose architectural, divided leaves are crowned from January to April with pale green bell-shaped flowers. To add a fragrant note to your border, install a Chimonanthus praecox 'Grandiflorus' with its fragrant yellow flowering throughout winter. And if you want to further encourage pollinating insects in your plot, add a plant of Abeliophyllum distichum, nicknamed the White Forsythia of Korea, which produces nectar-rich, white flowers from February, similar to those of yellow Forsythias.