Chaenomeles superba Elly Mossel - Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles x superba 'Elly Mossel' is a variety producing an abundance of large red flowers on bare branches in spring. This deciduous and elegant bush has a rounded shape with thorny and dense branches. It is ideal for defensive hedges. It bears shiny medium green foliage. Its bright spring flowering is followed by yellow fruits in autumn that can be used for making jelly when ripe. It is very vigorous and hardy, and thrives in well-drained soil that is not too dry or too chalky. It prefers a sunny to semi-shaded exposure. Perfect when trained against a wall. 

Chaenomeles x superba is a horticultural hybrid obtained around 1900 by G. Frahm in a German nursery. It is the result of cross-breeding between Chaenomeles japonica, the true Japanese quince, and its close relative C. speciosa. These two bushes from the Rosaceae family originate from East Asia and are perfectly cold-resistant.

The cultivar 'Elly Mossel' is a vigorous bush, with fairly rapid growth. It has a dense and rounded habit, which is slightly spreading. At maturity, it reaches an average height of 1.2m (4ft) and a width of 2m (7ft). Its flowering takes place in March-April depending on the region, just before or at the same time as the appearance of the foliage. The flowers bloom on the previous year's branches. The flowers measure 4cm (2in) in diameter and bloom in groups of 3 to 5. Cup-shaped, they are composed of 5 to 8 fiery red petals, surrounding a dark red stamen heart covered in yellow pollen. They are followed by the formation of globular and fragrant yellow fruits, measuring 4 to 5cm (2in) in diameter. Its deciduous foliage, which falls in winter, is dark green in colour, sometimes tinged with purple on young leaves. The entire, elongated oval-shaped leaves measure from 3 to 6cm (2in) long.

The Japanese quince is a very robust plant, to the point that it sometimes survives amidst brambles in old abandoned hedges. It can be used in flowerbeds, as an informal or defensive hedge, or even in pots on a terrace or balcony. Bonsai enthusiasts also appreciate it. In a defensive hedge, it can be planted, for example, with rugosa roses, barberries, Poncirus trifoliata, Pyracantha, hawthorn, or sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides). Two or three vigorous climbing roses like 'Mermaid' or 'Paul's Himalayan Musk' placed between these bushes will further discourage wanderers or opportunists of all kinds from eating your strawberries, flowers, or apples.

An extract called cananga essential oil is obtained from the fruit, which should not be confused with the one extracted from Cananga odorata, the Ylang-ylang. It is also a medicinal plant.