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Shrub · Rosaceae family

Japanese flowering-quince

Chaenomeles japonica

Full sun to part shade in a garden 0.6–1 m × 1.2–2 m Flowers March–June Harvest September–November to −29 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
in a garden after 10 years0.6–1 m
in the wild up to 1.5 m
spacing 1 m
FlowersMarch–June
PlantingMarch–April, October–November
PruningJuly
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in soil from dry to moist.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
dry to moistclayloamysandy

Watering

Japanese flowering-quince — Watering
only in dry spellsless when it rains

Frost

−29 °C
no winter protectionleafless in winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.61–1.5 mspread 0.8–2 m
0.61–1.5 m× spread 0.8–2 m

Plant 1 m apart.

Reaches maturity in about 5–10 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberPruning: JanuaryPruning: FebruaryPruning: MarchPruning: AprilPruning: MayPruning: JunePruning: JulyPruning: AugustPruning: SeptemberPruning: OctoberPruning: NovemberPruning: DecemberHarvest: JanuaryHarvest: FebruaryHarvest: MarchHarvest: AprilHarvest: MayHarvest: JuneHarvest: JulyHarvest: AugustHarvest: SeptemberHarvest: OctoberHarvest: NovemberHarvest: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeedingPruningHarvest
Now, in October: time to harvest.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–June · orange, red, pink or white

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, October–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

Pruning

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

prune after flowering (July)

Harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

September–November

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 40 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pruning

When and how to prune.

Months apply to Central Europe.

Japanese flowering-quince — Prune after flowering

Prune after flowering

Jul
How to prunePrune moderately: flowered shoots (back to strong young growth), some of the oldest stems near the base, dead, diseased and damaged wood.

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

Fire blight

Fire blight

Erwinia amylovora
disease
More about this problem

What you will see

Shoots die back.

When to look

From late spring to autumn

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • do not over-feed with nitrogen (soft growth is more susceptible)
    • early spring check for dying shoots
  2. By hand once found, in summercut out infected shoots 30 cm below the infected spot (60 cm for thicker branches) into healthy wood; disinfect tools between cuts; burn the prunings
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps —No chemical product is available to gardeners against fire blight on roses
Fire blightdisease · from late spring to autumn

What you will see

Shoots die back.

When to look

From late spring to autumn

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • do not over-feed with nitrogen (soft growth is more susceptible)
    • early spring check for dying shoots
  2. By hand once found, in summercut out infected shoots 30 cm below the infected spot (60 cm for thicker branches) into healthy wood; disinfect tools between cuts; burn the prunings
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps —No chemical product is available to gardeners against fire blight on roses
More about this problem

What you will see

Aphids can attack new shoots.

When to look

Spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • check young shoots, buds and leaf undersides often
    • tolerate small colonies – they are part of a healthy garden
  2. By hand spring–summersquash colonies with your fingers
  3. Biological all seasonencourage natural enemies: ladybirds, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps, ground beetles, earwigs
Aphidspest · spring and summer

What you will see

Aphids can attack new shoots.

When to look

Spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • check young shoots, buds and leaf undersides often
    • tolerate small colonies – they are part of a healthy garden
  2. By hand spring–summersquash colonies with your fingers
  3. Biological all seasonencourage natural enemies: ladybirds, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps, ground beetles, earwigs
More about this problem
Sources (4)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does Japanese flowering-quince flower?

In March–June; the flowers are orange, red, pink or white.

When is Japanese flowering-quince harvested?

In September–November.

Does Japanese flowering-quince tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does Japanese flowering-quince need?

At maturity 0.8–2 m wide and 0.61–1.5 m tall; recommended spacing 1 m.

Fire blight — what can you do?

do not over-feed with nitrogen (soft growth is more susceptible) cut out infected shoots 30 cm below the infected spot (60 cm for thicker branches) into healthy wood; disinfect tools between cuts; burn the prunings

Aphids — what can you do?

check young shoots, buds and leaf undersides often squash colonies with your fingers

Sources (21) Checked 24 October 2026

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