Chaenomeles superba Hollandia - Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles x superba 'Hollandia' is a vigorous and sturdy variety of Japanese quince, with a vibrant flowering in late winter. Its single flowers, occasionally semi-double, display a colour ranging from vermilion red to scarlet, which does not go unnoticed at the end of winter, on its still leafless branches. The fruits, which ripen in October, resemble small, yellow, and very hard apples; although they are edible, their fragrance does not match that of true quinces. Curious gardeners can prepare the fruit as jelly. While this flowering quince is not a rare bush, it possesses undeniable charm and is one of the most accommodating plants one can offer to the garden. It only fears excessively chalky and dry soils.

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 are native to East Asia and perfectly resistant to cold weather.

The 'Hollandia' cultivar is a slightly suckering bush, with fairly rapid growth and a very dense, rounded to slightly spreading habit. At maturity, it reaches an average height and spread of 1.5 m (5ft). Its flowering takes place in March-April, depending on the region, shortly before or at the same time as the appearance of the foliage. On its previous year's branches, adorned with long, fine, sharp thorns, flowers measuring 4cm (2in) in diameter bloom in clusters of 3 to 5. Cup-shaped, they consist of 5 to 8 petals of a very bright red surrounding a dark red stamen heart covered in yellow pollen. They are followed by the formation of globular and fragrant fruits, measuring 4 to 5cm (2in) in diameter, with a yellow colour. Its deciduous foliage, which falls in winter, is dark green, sometimes tinged with purple on young leaves. The entire and elongated oval-shaped leaves measure from 3 to 6cm (1 to 2in) in length.

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