Flowering Quince ‘Vermilion’ (Chaenomeles × superba ‘Vermilion’) is a brilliant early-flowering deciduous shrub prized for its vivid, fiery orange-red blossoms that appear in late winter before the leaves emerge. Bred in the UK as part of the superba hybrids, ‘Vermilion’ brings colour to the bare garden when few other plants are blooming. This compact and hardy shrub is well-suited to Australian temperate gardens, thriving in full sun or part shade and tolerating a range of soils.
- Flowers: Bright vermilion (orange-red), 3–4 cm wide, mildly scented; appear July–September (late winter to early spring)
- Size: About 1.2 m high × 1.5 m wide
- Uses: Ornamental shrub, informal hedge, espalier, floral arrangements
- Attributes: Hardy, drought-tolerant once established, reliable, moderate growth rate, long-lived
- Features: Thorny stems, glossy green foliage, yellow-green autumn colour, occasional fragrant yellow-green fruit in autumn
- Also known as: Flowering Quince ‘Vermilion’, Cydonia japonica (older synonym)
References:
Royal Horticultural Society
Missouri Botanical Garden
Gould, M. (2015). Flowering quinces for Australian gardens. Australian Garden History, 27(4), 20–23.
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