Chaenomeles speciosa Red Kimono Ainoomoi - Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles speciosa Red Kimono 'Ainoomoi' is a thornless variety with a brilliant red flowering. Its scarlet flowers herald the beginning of spring, transforming this bush into a dazzling bouquet from March onwards. It is an undemanding, hardy and easy to maintain bush. It works well in all gardens, even small ones. Its flowering branches are magnificent in bouquets. 

Red Kimono is derived from Chaenomeles speciosa, a thorny shrub native to China and belonging to the Rosaceae family. This variety was recently obtained in Japan. It differs from the typical species by its thornless branches and more regular habit. It eventually forms a bush about 1.5m (5ft) high and 1m (3ft) wide. Its flowering extends from March-April to May, depending on the region, and lasts for 3 to 4 weeks. The nectar-rich, cup-shaped flowers are composed of overlapping concave petals. The flower opens up to reveal a yellow stamen heart. The flowers are carried by a very short, or even absent, pedicel, and are grouped in 3 to 5 on the previous year's branches. The leaves develop after the flowers; they are narrow to lanceolate, 3 to 9cm (1 to 4in) long and 1.5 to 5cm (1to 2in) wide, with a beautiful shiny green on their upper surface. Red Kimono produces a few small, ripe and fragrant quinces at the end of summer. 

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 in isolation and with other shrubs. Red Kimono can also be used as a hedge, in the company of fragrant shrubs such as winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) which precedes it, white lilacs that will take over its flowering, and buddleias to follow. This small bush can also be trained on a wall, near the house, paired with a winter jasmine, to enjoy it with every passing.