Toyo-Nishiki Quince

The Toyo-Nishiki Quince is a bushy deciduous shrub growing as much as 10 feet tall and wide, with many branches and glossy dark-green leaves. It flowers in late winter or early spring, depending on your climate zone, and the bare stems are smothered in hundreds of blossoms that vary in color from pure white, through pink to reddish tones, often also marked and streaked with darker shades. Hardly any two blooms are identical. Flowers are followed by apple-size fruits that are pale green and fragrant. Too hard to eat, they make wonderful jellies and preserves that keep that magical aroma. It is a great garden shrub for early blooms, and can easily be trained to grow on a sunny wall.

• Charming blooms in variable colors of white, pink and red
• One of the earliest shrubs to bloom
• Glossy, dark-green foliage is always attractive
• Lovely trained to cover a wall or fence
• Trouble-free and deer-proof

Full sun is best for the Toyo-Nishiki Quince, which is hardy in zone 4 in a sheltered spot, and grows well in warm zones. It will grow in almost any well-drained soil, preferring richer ground but still doing well in sand or heavy clay. It has no serious pests or diseases and neither deer nor rabbits bother with it. Prune immediately after flowering to keep it more compact, and it can be trimmed in late summer as well.