Posted 11:44 pm Thursday, February 09, 2012
Flowering Quince Signals Approach Of Spring
By DEE BISHOP
Smith County Master Gardener
Nothing could be more cheerful on a cold winter day than the wonderful Flowering Quince. Every old Texas home had one as they have been one of Grandma’s favorite pass-along plants’ for over a century.
Flowering quince (Chaenomeles Japonica) also known as Japonica, is as old as Texas and just as tough. Growing all over North and East Texas and all the way across the South, Flowering quince remains steadfast around old home places, insisting on blooming every winter come what may.
A large shrub, the common red quince in my estimation is the most beautiful of all. For smaller yards, there are smaller quinces and for those who do not like red, quince comes in many other colors.
From pure white to pink to orange and all shades between, there is a quince for you.
Smith County Master Gardener
Nothing could be more cheerful on a cold winter day than the wonderful Flowering Quince. Every old Texas home had one as they have been one of Grandma’s favorite pass-along plants’ for over a century.
Flowering quince (Chaenomeles Japonica) also known as Japonica, is as old as Texas and just as tough. Growing all over North and East Texas and all the way across the South, Flowering quince remains steadfast around old home places, insisting on blooming every winter come what may.
A large shrub, the common red quince in my estimation is the most beautiful of all. For smaller yards, there are smaller quinces and for those who do not like red, quince comes in many other colors.
From pure white to pink to orange and all shades between, there is a quince for you.
Before you run out and buy a load for your yard, let me tell you their one down-fall. They are really ugly the rest of the year (for nine months).
They tend to lose most of their leaves and really hate the heat in summer.
Please don’t despair though, let me tell you how to overcome this one problem.
They tend to lose most of their leaves and really hate the heat in summer.
Please don’t despair though, let me tell you how to overcome this one problem.
Plant a pretty large-flowering clematis at the base of the quince to run up into the bush and bloom in summer.
The clematis will appreciate the support and the quince will appreciate the shade of the clematis. I also love to plant little jonquils at the base of the quince.
There is a pretty picture, the beautiful red quince surrounded by bright yellow jonquils.
Fowering Quince, after several years, makes fruit or quinces that make lovely preserves or jelly; so see, it really does ‘pull its load’ in the garden. Cardinals enjoy nesting in a big old stickery quince.
The clematis will appreciate the support and the quince will appreciate the shade of the clematis. I also love to plant little jonquils at the base of the quince.
There is a pretty picture, the beautiful red quince surrounded by bright yellow jonquils.
Fowering Quince, after several years, makes fruit or quinces that make lovely preserves or jelly; so see, it really does ‘pull its load’ in the garden. Cardinals enjoy nesting in a big old stickery quince.
I love to gather sprigs of budded quince to bring into the house where I can watch them open. Quince seems to herald spring.
As it comes into full bloom, yellow jonquils burst, hellebores, violets, summer snowflakes and spirea all follow shortly.
Flowering Quince puts on a spectacular show in winter then sits quietly by, awaiting its next debut.
Smith County Master Gardener Dee Bishop writes about things blooming in Tyler Municipal Rose Garden.
As it comes into full bloom, yellow jonquils burst, hellebores, violets, summer snowflakes and spirea all follow shortly.
Flowering Quince puts on a spectacular show in winter then sits quietly by, awaiting its next debut.
Smith County Master Gardener Dee Bishop writes about things blooming in Tyler Municipal Rose Garden.
