Other Names:  Common Quince

Description:

This upright shrub features showy cherry-red flower clusters; however, limited ornamental attributes the rest of the season; a lower growing variety, ideal for smaller home landscapes

Ornamental Features

Minerva Flowering Quince has cherry red cup-shaped flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage which emerges red in spring. The glossy oval leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. The fruits are showy yellow pomes displayed in mid fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This plant is primarily grown as an ornamental, but it's also valued for its edible qualities. The bitter fruit is most often used in the following ways:

• Preserves

Landscape Attributes

Minerva Flowering Quince is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance shrub that will require regular care and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy
• Spiny

Minerva Flowering Quince is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Minerva Flowering Quince will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.