Japanese Quince
Chaenomeles japonica
Also listed as Cydonia japonica, Aronia japonica
Also known as Japanese Flowering Quince, Maule's Quince, Flowering-quince
Climate Match for your location
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Japanese Quince is a spiny, deciduous shrub prized for its early spring flowers in red, orange, or pink. It produces small, fragrant yellow-green fruit in autumn that can be used for jams and preserves.
Why grow it
Japanese Quince flowers earlier in spring than most ornamental quinces, often blooming while snow is still possible, making it valuable for extending the season of early color. Unlike many flowering shrubs, it produces edible fruit suitable for processing, adding a secondary use beyond ornament. It tolerates poor soils and compact spaces better than some alternatives, though it requires full sun for reliable flowering and fruiting.
Watch out for
Flowering can be inconsistent in warm climates where winter chill requirements are not reliably met. Plants benefit from occasional thinning to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, particularly in humid regions. The sharp spines make this shrub less practical in high-traffic areas or near play spaces without careful placement.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Japan
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Japanese Quince is a spiny, deciduous shrub prized for its early spring flowers in red, orange, or pink. It produces small, fragrant yellow-green fruit in autumn that can be used for jams and preserves.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Japanese Quince grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Japanese Quince flowers earlier in spring than most ornamental quinces, often blooming while snow is still possible, making it valuable for extending the season of early color. Unlike many flowering shrubs, it produces edible fruit suitable for processing, adding a secondary use beyond ornament. It tolerates poor soils and compact spaces better than some alternatives, though it requires full sun for reliable flowering and fruiting.
Watch out for
Flowering can be inconsistent in warm climates where winter chill requirements are not reliably met. Plants benefit from occasional thinning to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, particularly in humid regions. The sharp spines make this shrub less practical in high-traffic areas or near play spaces without careful placement.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Japan
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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