Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai

Common Flowering Quince

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Common Flowering Quince is an introduced deciduous shrub in the Rose family (Rosaceae). It is native to Chine. In Alabama it is widely cultivated and occasionally persists or escapes. It can be found around old home sites, along fence rows, and in urban woodlands. Common Flowering Quince is a multi-trunked shrub reaching heights of 6-8 feet. The bark is gray in color and smooth, and stems are armed with thorns. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate to elliptic in outline, with serrate margins. The leaves are slightly pubescent along the veins on the leaf undersurface and have prominent reniform to ovate stipules. Flowers are solitary or in small clusters and are produced before the leaves. Each flower has 5 red, pink, or white petals. The fruit is a yellow aromatic pome. The fruit of Common Flowering Quince is edible but is tart and doesn’t have much flavor. Common Flowering Quince is often available from nurseries. It prefers a sunny site with well-draining soil. It is drought resistant once established.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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