Japanese flowering quince

Profile

Family

Rosaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

1.4 m

Spread

2 m

Growth

fast

Lifespan

80 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 5–8

Shade tolerance

full shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

dry – very moist

pH

6 – 8

Synonyms

Zierquitte, Scheinquitte

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit - raw or cooked. It is very sharp and sour when raw, but fragrant when cooked, giving jams and jellies a strong pleasant taste, especially delicious when cooked with apples in apple pie. The fruit is apple-shaped and has a diameter of about 4 cm. The rich aromatic juice, as tart as a lemon, is pressed and used for culinary purposes.

Other uses: Plants grow freely and can be used as ground cover. The C. japonica alpina variety is about half the size of the species, making it particularly suitable for planting at intervals of about 1 meter.

Growing

Easy to grow in any good soil. Prefers deep, moist, well-draining loam. Thrives in heavy clay soils. Tolerates full shade but needs a sunny spot for optimal fruiting. Shows signs of chlorosis in very alkaline soils. Resistant to air pollution. Highly decorative, cold-hardy down to about -25°C, and bears abundant fruit. Occasionally cultivated for its edible fruits. Closely related to C. speciosa. A good plant for bees, flowering early in the year and providing pollen and nectar. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

Sow seeds outdoors or in a cold frame immediately after ripening. Sow stored seeds in February in a greenhouse. Germination usually occurs within 6 weeks. Transplant seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle. By summer, these seedlings may be big enough to be planted out, but provide some protection in their first winter. Otherwise, plant them out in late spring of the following year. Take softwood cuttings in July/August in a frame. Easy. Take hardwood cuttings from the current year's growth in November in a cold frame. Layering in late spring or autumn. This is a safe and simple method, although it takes 12 months. Divide offsets in late winter. They can be planted directly in their final positions.

Notable

Special features: forms runners; best fruit formation on 3-year-old shoots; commercially grown in Latvia on >100ha; Yield varieties are: 'Cido' !'Nivalis', 'Rasa', and various hybrids (C. x superba) 'Fusion', then best to use 2 different varieties for a secure yield; can be grafted onto pear or mountain ash rootstocks;

Origin & habitat

Japan

In gorges and on slopes, between 1700 and 2400 meters in the Himalayas. Forests on mountain slopes, forest edges, thickets, and meadows at altitudes from 100 to 3700 meters.

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