Chaenomeles speciosa Pink Storm - Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Pink Storm' is the pink-flowered version of the remarkable 'Storm' series, bred and tested in the Appalachian Mountains, bringing together particularly hardy and drought-tolerant bushes. Its very large double flowers resemble camellias more than quinces. They bloom all along its thornless branches from spring. This beautiful novelty does not produce fruits. It is easy to integrate into an informal hedge or to train, even in a small garden. Its flowering branches are superb in bouquets.

'Pink Storm' is derived from Chaenomeles speciosa, a thorny shrub native to China and belonging to the Rosaceae family. This variety was recently obtained in North Carolina, USA, and is distinguished from the species by its more modest growth, thornless branches, and fabulous flowering that is not followed by the formation of fruits. This dense shrub will form a rounded bush, about 1 to 1.2m (3 to 4ft) high and wide. Its flowering lasts from April to May, for about 3 to 4 weeks. The large nectar-rich flowers, reaching 5 to 6cm (2in) in diameter, are composed of numerous petals that overlap a little like those of certain roses. Then the flower opens up and reveals a yellow stamen centre. The flowers are carried on very short or even absent pedicels, and grouped in 3 to 5 on the previous year's branches. The leaves develop after the flowers; they are narrow to lanceolate, 3 to 9 cm (1 to 4in) long and 1.5 to 5cm (1 to 2in) wide, with a beautiful shiny dark green on their upper surface.

Japanese quinces, like Forsythias, Abeliophyllum, and Japanese kerrias, are among the first to provide beautiful spring flowers, 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 as standalone plants and in mass plantings. 'Pink Storm' can be used in hedges, alongside fragrant shrubs such as winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) that precedes it, white lilacs that take over after its flowering, and buddleias to follow. This small shrub can also form a large ground cover, alongside ground cover roses, creeping ceanothus, or rosemary, for example. It can also be trained against a wall, near the house, paired with a winter jasmine, to enjoy it with every passing. Its still bare but bud-filled branches look beautiful in tall vases.