Flowering Quince

Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles speciosa

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

▲ ▼ mature shrubs flowering in spring

▲ ▼ flowers

▲ twigs showing thorny modified twig-spurs

▲ ▼ leaves showing prominent "half-moon" stipules

▲ ▼ spines at leaf axils and short spur spines, along with "half-moon" stipules

Location on campus: by the northeast entrance to Taylor Health Center on MSU campus

Chaenomeles speciosa: Flowering Quince

leaves simple, deciduous, alternate, ovate to oblong with large ear-shaped stipules on current-seasons growth; leaves 1.5-3.5" long and 1/2 as wide and dark, shiny green above and glabrous
stems are slender and brown, with periodic 1/2" - 1" thorns
flowers are white, pink, red, orangish, peach-colored on old wood at the nodes in early spring before leaves emerge
fruit is a large, apple-shaped pome; very sour when fresh, but can be cooked & preserved for sweet preserve
prefers full sun and dry soils, but fairly soil-adaptable
medium growth rate