What soil does Chinese flowering quince grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, acidic.

Is Chinese flowering quince hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Chinese flowering quince be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Chinese flowering quince be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1.5 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 2 plants per metre.

When does Chinese flowering quince flower?

Flowering: March–April, red, pink, white, orange.

How much water does Chinese flowering quince need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Chinese flowering quince cost?

It sells for roughly €6.90 to €13 in local shops, depending on size.

Chinese flowering quince

Chaenomeles speciosa

Chinese flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €6.90.

Illustration of Chinese flowering quince — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A dense, spiny shrub that reaches head height and flowers in early spring before the leaves: depending on the cultivar the white, pink or red blooms open on bare branches. It makes a good impenetrable thorny hedge, and the hard yellow fruit is sour when raw but excellent for jam and jelly. It flowers on old wood, so prune only after flowering, and pull out the root suckers now and then or it slowly spreads.

Watch out for

In wet springs fungal leaf spot and scab attack it and it can drop much of its foliage by midsummer; this looks poor but rarely kills the shrub. It is susceptible to fire blight, so near apples, pears and quinces watch for blackened, hooked shoot tips and cut them out back to healthy wood. On strongly alkaline soil the leaves turn yellow (iron chlorosis). Aphids, and less often scale and mites, appear on new growth, and late frost can kill the early flower buds.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 2 m × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–April, red, pink, white, orange

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	2 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	1.5–3 m × 1.8–3 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–April, red, pink, white, orange
Harvest	September–October
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	150 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €6.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €6.90 – €13

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant shrubs Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Hedge plants Shrubs for pollinators Low-maintenance shrubs Flowering shrubs Plants with edible fruit

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

Compare with similar plants

Chinese flowering quince vs Flowering quince Chinese flowering quince vs Japanese quince Chinese flowering quince vs Shrub rose

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