Chaenomeles superba Colour Trail - Flowering Quince

The Chaenomeles superba 'Colour Trail' is a variety of Japanese Quince with many advantages. It is a small thorny bush that offers a remarkable extended flowering, with a unique coral pink colour streaked with white. Its pleasantly scented and large-sized flowers first bloom on bare branches, then until June. The fruits, which ripen in October, resemble small, very hard yellow apples. Curious gardeners can prepare them into jelly, although they are edible, their fragrance does not equal that of true quinces. While this flowering quince is not a rare bush, it possesses undeniable charm, and it is one of the strongest and most robust that one can offer to their garden. It only fears excessively chalky and dry soils.

The Japanese Quince 'Colour Trail' is a recent horticultural creation. It is part of the many selections derived from Chaenomeles (x) superba, a horticultural hybrid obtained around 1900 by G. Frahm in a German nursery. This bush is the result of cross-breeding between Chaenomeles japonica, the true Japanese quince, and its close relative C. speciosa. These two bushes from the Rosaceae family are native to East Asia and are extremely cold-resistant.

The 'Colour Trail' cultivar is a slightly suckering bush, with a fairly slow growth, a very dense, rounded, and slightly spreading habit. At the age of 8-10 years, it will reach approximately 70 cm (28in) in all directions. Eventually, it can measure 1.20 m (4ft) in all directions, or even slightly more depending on the growing conditions. Its flowering begins in March-April depending on the region, shortly before or at the same time as the appearance of the foliage. It renews until June. On its previous year's branches, equipped with long and thin sharp thorns, 4 cm (2in) diameter flowers bloom, grouped in 3 to 5. Cup-shaped, they are composed of 5 to 8 petals of various colours, ranging from coral pink to white, surrounding a dark pink stamen core. Pollinated by bees, they are followed by the formation of globular and fragrant fruits, which turn yellow when ripe, measuring 4 to 5 cm (2in) in diameter. Its deciduous foliage, absent in winter, is dark green, but young leaves are pink. The entire, elongated oval-shaped leaves measure from 3 to 6 cm (1 to 2in) long.

Chaenomeles superba 'Colour Trail' can be used individually, in flower beds, in pots, in a free or defensive hedge, or even in pots on the terrace or balcony. It is also appreciated by bonsai enthusiasts. In a defensive hedge, for example, it can be paired with rugosa roses ('Hansa', 'Blanc double de Coubert'), barberry, Poncirus trifoliata, holly. Two or three fierce climbing roses like 'Mermaid' or 'Laguna' placed between these bushes will discourage any wanderers or opportunists from eating your strawberries, flowers, or raspberries.

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