Chaenomeles superba Etna - Flowering Quince

From April to May, Chaenomeles x superba 'Etna' bears clusters of dark scarlet red single flowers on its bare branches, contrasting perfectly with its dark bark with silvery reflections. In autumn, the flowers are followed by small hard yellow fruits, similar to small apples, with a quince-like taste. The fruits are edible when cooked. It is a deciduous bush of medium vigour with a low and rather spreading habit, suitable for smaller gardens and container gardening. It is a beautiful thorny bush that easily forms medium-sized hedges, both defensive and flowering. Hardy and undemanding, it grows in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil, that is not too dry and not too chalky.

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 'Etna' cultivar has a dense, rounded to slightly spreading habit. At maturity, it reaches an average height of 1.5m (5ft) and a width of 2m (7ft). Its flowering takes place in April-May depending on the region, just before or at the same time as the foliage appears. The flowers bloom on the previous year's thorny 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 petals of a rather dark scarlet red, surrounding a dark red stamen heart covered with 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.

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 essence is obtained from the fruit, which should not be confused with the one obtained from Cananga odorata, the Ylang-ylang. It is also a medicinal plant.