The decorative quince is a welcome guest in every garden. With enchanting spring blossoms, lush green leaves and yellow fruit decorations in autumn, the thorny shrub always has something to offer. The following answers to frequently asked questions provide more information about the cultivation and give tips about the decorative apple fruits.

The ornamental quince not only has beautiful fruits but also dreamlike flowers

Table of Contents

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  1. Plant ornamental quinces correctly
  2. care tips
  3. Which location is suitable?
  4. The right planting distance
  5. What is the best planting time?
  6. When is flowering time?
  7. Cut ornamental quinces correctly
  8. Water ornamental quince
  9. Fertilize ornamental quince properly
  10. hibernate
  11. Propagate ornamental quince
  12. Is ornamental quince poisonous?
  13. Is the ornamental quince edible?
  14. Beautiful varieties

    15. Plant ornamental quinces correctly

    They strengthen the floral back of an ornamental quince when planted in autumn. After the humus-rich, permeable soil has been thoroughly weeded and raked, dig a spacious pit. First shovel the excavation into the wheelbarrow to mix it with compost and horn shavings (€32.93). After the root ball has been soaked in water until no more air bubbles rise, pot it out. The planting depth in the seed pot is maintained as far as possible and the soil is pressed down with your hands. After a generous sip of water, finish by spreading a layer of mulch.

    care tips

    The care program of an ornamental quince does not set the horticultural bar high. How to get the best out of the shrub:

    • Never allow the root ball to dry out
    • Fertilize with compost and horn shavings every 2-3 weeks from March to August
    • Give a liquid fertilizer in the pot every 14 days
    • Cut back only if necessary immediately after flowering
    • Thin out the wild fruit bush thoroughly every 2-3 years
    • Winter protection recommended in the year of planting and for potted plants

    Pay attention to the numerous thorns during all care and planting work. You should not do without the protection of sturdy work gloves and long-sleeved clothing.

    Which location is suitable?

    One of the pillars of successful cultivation is the prudent choice of location. Fortunately, the shrub is flexible in this regard. It depends on these conditions:

    • Sunny, shady to semi-shady position
    • Warm and protected from strong winds
    • Good garden soil, loamy, humic and fresh
    • Nutritious and slightly calcareous

    In order for an ornamental quince to achieve its optimum, the loose depth of the soil is of crucial importance.
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    The right planting distance

    One of the outstanding attributes of an ornamental quince is that, as a small shrub, it grows both wide and tall. Adapt the planting distance to this property if the ornamental fruit tree acts as a solitaire. In order to quickly form a dense hedge, plant a shrub for every meter.

    What is the best planting time?

    Autumn is the time to plant trees and shrubs of all kinds. In this respect, the ornamental quince is no exception. Since the ground is between 17 and 20 degrees Celsius warm at this time of year, the shrub establishes itself in good time before winter. In addition, the increased rainfall effectively prevents harmful drought stress, which noticeably reduces the workload for the gardener.

    When is flowering time?

    Depending on the type and variety, the flowering period of an ornamental quince extends from April to May or May to June. Skilled breeders have also breathed reflowering potential into newer hybrids, like the gorgeous Elli Mossel. However, this requires a pruning of the withered flowers, which considerably reduces the extent of the autumn fruit load.

    Cut ornamental quinces correctly

    Ornamental quinces do not require an annual pruning. Since the shrub flowers and bears fruit on two-year-old wood, experienced hobby gardeners let it grow as unhindered as possible. Nevertheless, the wild fruit trees should be thoroughly thinned out every 2-3 years. Therefore, during the leafless period, remove all deadwood, stunted new shoots and inward-facing twigs. In this way, sufficient sunlight always reaches all shrub regions so that the shoots do not become bare. If you feel disturbed by long shoots in the optical appearance, the best time for a light topiary is immediately after the end of the flowering period.
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    Water ornamental quince

    Keep the root ball of an ornamental quince constantly moist, because drought stress affects the abundance of flowers and fruit alike. If the soil dries on the surface, it is poured directly onto the root disc. During hot, dry summer weeks, this can be the case every day, while in autumn the rain covers the water requirement.

    Fertilize ornamental quince properly

    The leaner the soil, the higher the nutrient requirement. Fertilize the shrub every 2-3 weeks from March to August with compost, horn shavings, bark humus or manure. If the fruits are intended for consumption, complete chemical fertilizers should not be used. In the pot, give an organic liquid fertilizer every 14 days from spring to late summer.

    hibernate

    The ornamental shrub is fully hardy and requires no overwintering provisions. For reasons of caution, we recommend a layer of foliage in the year of planting to protect against cold and wet. Cultivated in a tub, place the ornamental quince on a block of wood in front of the south wall of the house and cover the container with bubble wrap.

    Propagate ornamental quince

    If you have been captivated by the magic of an ornamental quince, you can grow more specimens using the following methods:

    • Take the cuttings as cracklings with some bark in order to root them in the pot in lean soil
    • Pull the sinker to the ground, dig the middle in a furrow, fix and root
    • Cut off root runners and root directly in the bed or in the pot

    The sowing of the seeds should be mentioned at this point for the sake of completeness. Since these are cold germs, this form of propagation proves to be laborious, risky and requires years of patience until the first flowering.
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    Is ornamental quince poisonous?

    As part of the rose family of plants, the flesh of ornamental quinces is not poisonous, but is hard and acidic. However, the kernels contained should be consumed with caution, as botanists ascribe a slight poison content to them. As part of the preparation, the fruits are boiled until soft and juiced to remove the questionable seeds. All other parts of the plant are without the slightest poison content. The thorny branches should be treated with due respect - not poisonous but painful.
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    Is the ornamental quince edible?

    It is no coincidence that her middle name is Nordic Lemon. Die-hard lovers of sour fruits like to bite into a fully ripe ornamental quince, freshly picked from the bush. However, the stone fruit only becomes a culinary delight after it has been prepared with a good portion of sugar. The knowledgeable housewife turns the wild fruit into a refreshing jelly, an aromatic jam or a syrup rich in vitamins, while the host favors the preparation as a tasty liqueur.
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    Beautiful varieties

    • Rubra: Popular ornamental shrub thanks to its red flowers, decorative fruits and compact habit
    • Cido: Premium variety with orange-red cup flowers from May to June, only a few thorns, but numerous fruits in autumn
    • Nivalis: The broad, bushy shrub impresses with white cup-shaped flowers, leathery-green leaves and bright yellow apple fruits
    • Pink Lady: Early flowering variety in soft pink from April and yellow-green ornamental quinces from September
    • Elli Mossel: The red-blooming lady has the potential for a rich second bloom in autumn

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Indoor plants