Flowering Quince Without Thorns

Old-fashioned flowering quince shrubs are covered with long sharp thorns and drop messy fruit throughout the autumn. A new set of flowering quinces, named the Double Take flowering quince, grow without thorns to scrape the fruit or skin to clean up. So far there are just three kinds developed, maturing in 6 feet tall with exceptional blooms, which flower in the spring in full to partial sun exposure.

“Pink Storm”

Double Take “Pink Storm” (Chaenomeles speciosa “Pink Storm”) creates big double blossoms 2 inches across with 29 to 40 milligrams per blossom in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. All these salmon- or even coral-colored flowers symbolize camellia blossoms. This bush can be grown in a container and kept in 4 feet tall with careful pruning. This plant can be deer resistant, so it grows well in regions with a deer issue.

“Orange Storm”

Double Take “Orange Storm” (Chaenomeles speciosa “Orange Storm”) grows best in zones 5 through 8 using big double-bloom flowers composed of 31 to 39 petals. These extreme orange blossoms symbolize fluffy petticoats appearing in the early spring. The “Orange Storm” flowering quince typically attains only 3 to 4 feet tall and wide in the house garden. This variety occasionally flowers again later in the year if growing conditions are right.

“Scarlet Storm”

Double Take “Scarlet Storm” flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa “Scarlet Storm”) creates a profusion of early spring flowers in zones 5 through 9. The dark red petals have a velvety texture. These petals overlap and surround a yellow center, creating a blossom 2 1/2 inches wide. Unlike other flowering quinces that produce blossoms only on the ends of the branches, “Scarlet Storm” covers its branches with blooms. This is just another new variety that occasionally flowers again in the same calendar year.

Care

All these thornless flowering quinces need routine moisture to produce strong roots and stunning floral displays. Even though these bushes tolerate partial shade, they flower best in full sun exposure. Flowering quince shrubs adapt to most soil types that drain well. Don’t prune these shrubs back severely because it lessens the amount of next season’s flowers. Pruning is performed in the spring following the shrubs have been finished blooming. These shrubs spread via root suckers, so remove those suckers when they seem to prevent the increase of flowering quince bushes in undesirable locations.

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