Chaenomeles cathayensis
Chaenomeles japonica
Chaenomeles speciosa

Chaenomeles is a genus of three species of deciduous spiny shrubs, usually 1-3 m tall, in the family Rosaceae. They are native to eastern Asia in Japan, China and Korea. These plants are related to the Quince (Cydonia oblonga) and the Chinese Quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis), differing in the serrated leaves, and in the flowers having deciduous sepals and styles that are connate at the base.

The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, and have a serrated margin. The flowers are 3-4.5 cm diameter, with five petals, and are usually bright orange-red, but can be white or pink; flowering is in late winter or early spring. The fruit is a pome with five carpels; it ripens in late autumn.

C. cathayensis is native to western China and has the largest fruit of the genus, pear-shaped, 10-15 cm long and 6-9 cm wide. The flowers are usually white or pink. The leaves are 7-14 cm long.

C. japonica (Maule's Quince or Japanese Quince) is native to Japan, and has small fruit, apple-shaped, 3-4 cm diameter. The flowers are usually red, but can be white or pink. The leaves are 3-5 cm long.

C. speciosa (Chinese Flowering Quince) is native to China and Korea, and has apple-shaped fruit 5-6 cm diameter. The flowers are red. The leaves are 4-7 cm long.

Four named hybrids have been bred in gardens. The commonest is C. x superba, hybrid C. speciosa x C. japonica, while C. x vilmoriniana is a hybrid C. speciosa x C. cathayensis, and C. x clarkiana is a hybrid C. japonica x C. cathayensis. The hybrid C. x californica is a tri-species hybrid C. x superba x C. cathayensis. Numerous named cultivars of all of these hybrids are available in the horticultural trade.

Uses

The species have become a popular ornamental shrubs in parts of Europe and North America, grown in gardens for their bright orange-red flowers. Some cultivars grow up to 2 m tall, but others are much smaller and creeping.

They are commonly known as Flowering Quince or Japanese Quince; the latter name, while correctly referring to C. japonica, is often applied regardless of species. The most commonly cultivated and so-named are actually the hybrid C. x superba and C. speciosa, not C. japonica.

They are also suitable for cultivation as a bonsai.

The fruit are very hard and astringent and very unpleasant to eat raw, though they do soften and become less astringent ("bletted") after frost. It is however, suitable for making liqueurs, as well as marmalade and preserves, as it contains more pectin than apples and real quinces. The fruit also contains more vitamin C than lemons (up to 150 mg/100g).