Chaenomeles superba Pink Trail - Japanese Quince

The Chaenomeles x superba 'Pink Trail' is a relatively compact, very floriferous Japanese Quince that produces decorative small quinces at the end of the season. It is a small, thorny bush that offers beautiful, fragrant flowers and a prolonged salmon-pink flowering in early spring. Its fruits resemble small, tough yellow apples, pleasantly aromatic. This variety has an undeniable charm and is an easy plant to succeed in many regions. It only fears excessively chalky and arid soils.

The Japanese Quince 'Pink Trail' ('Interpitra') is a recent horticultural creation. It is part of the many selections from Chaenomeles x superba, a horticultural hybrid obtained around 1900 by G. Frahm in a German nursery. This shrub results from cross-breeding between Chaenomeles japonica, the true Japanese quince, and its close relative, C. speciosa. These two shrubs from the Rosaceae family are native to East Asia and are highly cold-resistant.

The 'Pink Trail' cultivar is a slightly suckering bush with relatively slow growth and a dense, rounded, and slightly spreading habit. At 8-10 years old, it will reach about 70 cm in all directions. Eventually, it can measure 1.10 m in all directions or a little more depending on the growing conditions. Its flowering begins in March-April, depending on the region, just before the appearance of the foliage or at the same time. It renews itself until May or June, depending on the climate. On its previous year's branches, it is equipped with long and fine sharp thorns, 4 cm diameter flowers bloom, grouped in 3 to 5. Cup-shaped, they are composed of 5 to 8 petals coloured salmon-pink, surrounding a cluster of stamens. Pollinated by bees, they produce globular and fragrant fruits, turning yellow when ripe, measuring 4 to 5 cm in diameter. Absent in winter, its deciduous foliage is bright green and then turns yellow in October before falling. The entire, elongated oval-shaped leaves measure from 3 to 6 cm long.

The Chaenomeles superba 'Pink Trail' can be placed alone, in a shrub border, in a small free or defensive hedge, or in a container on the terrace or balcony. Bonsai enthusiasts also appreciate it. It pairs well with the 'Jet Trail' Japanese Quince, which has white flowers, and with bush roses that produce decorative fruits, especially the varieties 'Hansa' and 'Blanc double de Coubert'. Also, consider the Slender Deutzia and dwarf mock oranges as companions.

An extract called Cananga essence is obtained from the fruit, not to be confused with the one derived from Cananga odorata, the Ylang-ylang. It is also a reputed medicinal plant.