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Chaenomeles japonica

Japanese Quince · Maule's Quince · Japanese Flowering Quince

Family RosaceaeGenus Chaenomeles

Clusters of coral-pink cup flowers with yellow stamens, crowded along a thorny gray branch
FlowerH. ZellCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Height
2-3 ft60-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
3-6 ft0.9-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Orange, Pink, Red/Burgundy, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Hardiness zones
5-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet, Very DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Worth knowing

  • Japanese quince is a thorny shrub reaching only about 1 m, shorter than the other commonly grown flowering quince, Chaenomeles speciosa. It is best known for its spring flowers in red, white, pink or several colors at once. Wikipedia: Chaenomeles japonica

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 12, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    14 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 2, in 52 days.

86% germination in 52 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Chaenomeles p. 116Public domain
Show the original text
Chaenomeles (Rosaceae). C. japonica germ. best in 40(86%, id; t 52 d, 50/Jd)-70(14%) for fresh WC seed. DS causes -deterioration, faster at 70 naturally, as shown by 40(80%) for seed DS 6 m at 40 and 40(50%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. The most striking result with this species was that an initial 3 m at 70 was totally fatal either for fresh or DS seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Chaenomeles p. 116. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

80% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Chaenomeles p. 116Public domain
Show the original text
Chaenomeles (Rosaceae). C. japonica germ. best in 40(86%, id; t 52 d, 50/Jd)-70(14%) for fresh WC seed. DS causes -deterioration, faster at 70 naturally, as shown by 40(80%) for seed DS 6 m at 40 and 40(50%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. The most striking result with this species was that an initial 3 m at 70 was totally fatal either for fresh or DS seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Chaenomeles p. 116. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

50% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Chaenomeles p. 116Public domain
Show the original text
Chaenomeles (Rosaceae). C. japonica germ. best in 40(86%, id; t 52 d, 50/Jd)-70(14%) for fresh WC seed. DS causes -deterioration, faster at 70 naturally, as shown by 40(80%) for seed DS 6 m at 40 and 40(50%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. The most striking result with this species was that an initial 3 m at 70 was totally fatal either for fresh or DS seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Chaenomeles p. 116. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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