We grow various cultivars of Chaenomeles speciosa, Chaenomeles japonica and Chaenomeles x superba at Chicago Botanic Garden and for the most part, they do really well.

After years of fruitless search, finally I decided to ask a friend of mine abroad to send me seeds from a fruit of Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin.) Koehne. Fourtunately, 12 sprouted, and I still have seven 4-year stocks in my garden (five were snatched by my friends already), and they are already 12-ft tall. I'm in zone 7, but I do know for sure that Chaenomeles sinensis just do fine even in zone 3 from my memory -- actually your zone 5 would be most ideal.

If it is Flowering Quince, I had one for 19 years here in zone 5. No problem. They certainly are beautiful in spring. Last year mine flowered in spring and then I got a small one in late fall.

Cheers Jando

"Flowering quince" is Chanomeles japonica, grown for it's wonderful flowers, but can be disappointing to non-existant when it comes to fruit. Chanomeles sinensis is Chinese quince, flowers are fine as flowers go, but main attraction is the fruit that is supposed to have medicinal use. Zone 5b shouldn't be a problem either way, 5a may occaisionally get cold enough to damage buds.

Susan

Thanks Susan for the knowledge.

Cheers Jando

Flowering quince doesn't automatically mean Chaenomeles japonica, as already indicated other species are grown as well, including C. x californica, C. speciosa and C. x superba. 2 frequently sold cultivars, 'Cameo' and 'Pink Lady', belong to C. x superba.

Chaenomeles sinensis = Pseudocydonia sinensis. Look for it under that name.

You are right, Ron! Sometimes when a question leads in a specific direction, I just jump on the wagon and forget to examine further. Would you happen to know if 'Cameo' is a sterile hybrid? I've picked fruit from 'Nivalis', 'Hollandia' and 'Toyo Nishiki' but never 'Cameo'. Didn't think to wonder why till just now.

Susan

There's a large drift of Chaenomeles x superba 'Cameo' at the Graham Visitor Center in the Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle. I have seen fruits in the planting - although I'm not sure this same cultivar makes up the whole of it. There might be another one in another section that is responsible for the fruiting. I'll check later if I think of it.