Chaenomeles speciosa Orange Storm - Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Orange Storm', Japanese quince, is the brightly orange-flowered version of the remarkable 'Storm' series, bred and tested in the Appalachian Mountains. It brings together particularly hardy and drought-tolerant bushes. Its very large double flowers are more reminiscent of camellias than quinces. They bloom along its thornless branches in spring. This beautiful novelty, which does not produce fruit, is an easy shrub to integrate into a free hedge, or to espalier, even in a small garden. Its flowering branches are superb in bouquets.

'Orange Storm' is derived from Chaenomeles speciosa, a thorny shrub native to China and belonging to the rose family. This variety was recently obtained in North Carolina, United States, and is distinguished from the species by its more modest growth, its thornless branches, and its fabulous flowering which is not followed by fruit formation. This dense shrub will form a high and wide rounded bush of about 1.20 m (3.9 ft). Its flowering extends from April to May, for about 3 to 4 weeks. The very large nectar-rich flowers, reaching 5 cm to 6 cm (2 in to 2.4 in) in diameter, are composed of numerous petals that overlap a bit like those of certain roses. Then the flower opens up and reveals a yellow stamen in the centre. The flowers are carried by a very short or even absent pedicel, and grouped in 3 to 5 on the previous year's branches. The leaves develop after the flowers; they are narrow to lanceolate, 3 cm to 9 cm (1.2 in to 3.5 in) long and 1.5 cm to 5 cm (0.6 in to 2 in) wide, and a beautiful shiny dark green on their upper surface.

Japanese quinces, like Forsythias, Abeliophyllums and Japanese kerrias, bring us beautiful flowers in their simplicity, so eagerly awaited after a long winter. They are comfortable in all climates, as they are not afraid of heat or cold. They can be grown both individually and in mass plantings, and of course in a country hedge. The 'Orange Storm' variety can be planted alongside fragrant shrubs like winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) that precedes it, white lilacs that will take over from its flowering, and buddleias to follow. This small shrub can form a large ground cover on a slope, in the company of ground cover roses, creeping ceanothus or rosemary, for example. It can also be espaliered on a wall, near the house, paired with a winter jasmine. Its leafless branches adorned with buds are also an opportunity for beautiful tall vase bouquets.