Chaenomeles speciosa Rubra - Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Rubra' is a form of Japanese quince with dark red flowers. Its brilliant flowers, which form partially open cups, announce the beginning of spring. It is a hardy, robust and undemanding plant that is a must-have in the garden. It is perfect in an informal hedge, or a defensive one. It looks incredible in a shrub bed. It also delights bonsai enthusiasts and its flowering branches are magnificent in bouquets.

Chaenomeles speciosa is a thorny Chinese bush of the Rosaceae family. It has fast growth. It forms a bush with a slightly loose habit during its young years, then expands by developing suckers at the base and dense, somewhat bushy branches, reaching an average of 2m (7ft) in all directions. Its flowering period extends from April to May, for about 3 to 4 weeks. The fragrant flowers reach 3 to 5cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. They are composed of 5 petals that overlap to form a hollow cup. Each flower blooms incompletely, revealing a heart of yellow stamens. The flowers are carried by a very short or absent pedicel, and grouped in 3 to 5 on the previous year's branches. The leaves develop just after the flowers. They are coppery at first, narrow to lanceolate, 3 to 9cm (1 to 4in) long and 1.5 to 5cm (1 to 2in) wide, with a beautiful shiny dark green on their upper surface. The flowering is followed by the formation of small quinces. The fruit is initially green before turning yellow and aromatic when ripe. They are edible after cooking.

Japanese quinces, like Forsythias, Abeliophyllum, and Japanese kerrias, are among the first to provide beautiful spring flowers, so eagerly awaited after a long winter. They are comfortable in all climates, as they are not afraid of heat or cold. They can be grown both isolated and in a bed. The 'Rubra' variety can also be used as a hedge, in the company of fragrant shrubs such as winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) that precedes it, rugosa roses and white lilacs that take over its flowering, and buddleias to follow. It can also be trained against a wall, near the house, combined with a winter jasmine, to enjoy it with every passing.

Uses, properties:

An extract called cananga essence is obtained from the fruit, not to be confused with the one derived from Cananga odorata, the Ylang-ylang.

The raw fruits are bitter and astringent, making them unfit for consumption as they are. However, once cooked, they are edible and can be used for making jellies or preserves.

In Chinese pharmacopoeia, dried fruits are used, among other things, for their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic and liver-protective properties.