Chaenomeles superba Jet Trail - Flowering Quince

The Chaenomeles superba 'Jet Trail' is an elegant spiny bush, particularly floriferous, covered with pure white flowers, from April before the development of its medium green foliage.

Originally from China and Japan, this vigorous 1.5m (4 in 11 ft) tall hardy bush, with a spreading habit, has flexible branches with fine thorns. It has deciduous, alternate, ovate, dentate leaves, 6cm (2.4 in) long, medium green and glossy. In April, the simple, pure white, wide, open, cup-shaped flowers, 4cm (1.6 in) in diameter, bloom before the leaves. The green autumn fruits then turn yellow when ripe, shaped like quinces, 5 to 7cm (2 - 2.8 in) in diameter, are fragrant and edible in jelly.

The Chaenomeles superba 'Jet Trail', not demanding, grows in any well-drained soil, in a sunny position without scorching sun or partially shaded. To maintain a compact habit, prune the branches that have flowered just above the lower branching or a bud. On espaliered bushes, cut back the branches to a few buds of the main branch in May.

The Chaenomeles superba 'Jet Trail' can be used as a standalone plant, in a container, as a border plant associated with primula vulgaris or aquilegia alpina, or trained along a wall. Cananga essence (similar to ylang-ylang) is extracted for perfume production. As a medicinal plant, its seeds are used against diarrhoea.