Chaenomeles speciosa
| Chaenomeles speciosa | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 16' |
| Blooms: | Late Winter-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Chaenomeles speciosa (common name: japanese quince)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sheltered position outdoors or in a cold frame[1]. Sow stored seed in February in a greenhouse[2]. Germination usually takes place within 6 weeks[2]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. If well grown, these seedling can be large enough to plant out in the summer, but give them some protection in their first winter. Otherwise plant them out in late spring of the following year[K].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[3]. Easy[4].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, November in a cold frame.
Layering in late spring or in autumn. This is a sure and easy method, though it takes 12 months[2][1].
Cultivation: Easily cultivated in any reasonably good soil[5][3]. Prefers a deep moist well-drained loam[3]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates full shade but requires a sunny position for best fruit production[6][3][1]. Becomes chlorotic on very alkaline soils[1]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[1].
This species is hardy to about -25°c[1].
Plants fruit freely in Britain, but the fruit does not always ripen. They do best when grown against a south-facing wall[3].
A very ornamental plant[5], there are many named varieties developed for their ornamental value[7][8].
Closely allied to C. japonica[3].
A good bee plant, flowering early in the year and providing pollen and nectar[9].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[1].
Range: E. Asia - China. An occasional garden escape in Britain[10].
Habitat: Long cultivated, its natural habitat is now obscure.
Edibility: Fruit - cooked[6][11][12]. Very harsh and acid raw but fragrant when cooked[5][3]. Used for jams, jellies etc and as a flavouring with cooked apples[8][K]. The fruit can be apple or pear-shaped and up to 6.5cm long x 6.5cm wide[1].
Medicinal: The fruit is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, astringent and digestive[13][14][15]. A decoction is used internally in the treatment of nausea, joint pains, cholera and associated cramps[13][14][15].
Usage: Plants can be grown as a medium sized hedge[3][16][1].
Some cultivars, such as 'Jet Trail' are suitable for ground cover[7].
Pollinators: Bees
Notes: We could supply this in the next catalogue.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Also Known As: C. laganaria. Cydonia lagenaria. Cydonia speciosa. Pyrus japonica. non Thunb.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association, 1981.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Shepherd, F. W.. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society, 1974.