Flowering Quince - Chaenomeles speciosa

Your grandmother probably had a flowering quince in her yard.  They were popular cottage garden plants back in the day.  Turns out Grandma was right – flowering quince are top-notch for honey bees.   Positively “a buzz” in April when it blooms!

• Dense, thorny shrub, 6-10’.
• Blooms for 2-3 weeks in April.
• 3 star nectar source and 2 star pollen source for honey bees; bumble bees will also visit.
• Sun to part shade, drought tolerant, adaptable to a wide range of soil types.
• Renewal prune by cutting the oldest branches to the ground after flowering. You can also cut the entire shrub down to within 6” of the ground if it’s getting out of bounds.

 

‘Toyo-Nishiki’, is a strong, upright grower 8’ high and wide.