Toyo Nishiki Flowering Quince

Medium-sized deciduous flowering shrub, Chaenomeles speciosa (also listed as C. japonica). Vase-shaped dense bushy form with thorny contorted spiny branches. Multi-stemmed. Unique variety prized internationally for multi-colored blooms. More disease resistant than fruiting quince Cydonia oblonga. Easy to care for, tolerates many soils and conditions including drought. Blooms on old growth. Can become unkempt without regular pruning. Makes interesting bonsai specimen. Attracts birds and pollinators.

Unique spectacular display with individual red, pink, pink-white, and white buttercup-like flowers (1.5 inches across, 3-4 cm) all on same branch, often before leaves emerge. Masses of large showy flowers in shades of pink and white, truly multicolored display. Blooms early spring with forsythia, very early spring bloom. Glossy finely toothed dark green leaves characteristic of rose family, turn yellow in fall. Green to yellow pome fruits (up to 5 cm diameter), larger than average for flowering quince. Small fragrant greenish-yellow fruits ripen October. Edible quince-like fruit, bitter raw but best when processed into preserves and jellies, especially mixed jams due to high pectin content. Pinkish white blooms. Branches can be cut and forced to bloom indoors.

Popular variety widely distributed. Not grown primarily for fruit but for spectacular flowers.