Chaenomeles Speciosa ‘Red Kimono’

This compact, thorn-free flowering quince, bears single, vermillion-red flowers in March and April. It’s a surprising colour so early in the season, delivering a dazzling spring reveille after the grey tones of winter.

The bowl-shaped flowers of Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Red Kimono’ are set off by contrasting golden stamens and held on bare stems which, unlike most other Chaenomeles, are conveniently thorn-free. The flowers are followed by fragrant yellow fruits that can be made into quince jelly. ‘Red Kimono’ develops a slightly more upright habit than other Chaenomeles. Height and spread: 150cm (59in).

Chaenomeles is a low-maintenance, deciduous shrub that adapts to most soil types, even coping admirably with heavy clays. The bowl-shaped flowers have a delicate, oriental beauty that belies the robust and easy nature of these reliable shrubs. They provide a burst of welcome early colour in the spring and their flowers are also appreciated as an early food source by bees and other beneficial pollinators. Chaenomeles form fast-growing twiggy shrubs clothed in glossy green leaves. They are extremely versatile in the garden. They can be left to grow into large, freestanding specimens or regularly pruned after flowering to use as smaller background shrubs or maintained as flowering hedges. Their bare branches studded with jewel-like flowers also look fantastic trained as wall specimens. For the best flowering performance, plant them in a sunny position.

Plant height and spread is seasonal therefore we list by pot size rather than a defined plant size. The height and spread of the plant delivered will vary depending on the season, meaning arrival images are an indication only.