About
Chaenomeles japonica 'Orange Beauty' is a low-growing, thorny shrub that typically reaches a height of around 1 meter. Its leaves are rounded, glossy, and display a mid-green hue, often showing a reddish tint when they first emerge. In the spring, this plant produces clusters of vibrant orange, cup-shaped blooms, which are succeeded by yellow fruit in the fall. The fruit can be utilized for making jams and jellies, though it is important to consult information regarding its toxicity for safe use.
About the genus
Chaenomeles consists of deciduous shrubs that are typically spiny, featuring simple leaves. In spring, these plants produce cup-shaped flowers with five petals, which may appear alone or in clusters. After flowering, they bear edible fruits that are often fragrant, ranging in color from green to yellow.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs, Fruit Edible
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Wildlife gardens
- Fragrance
- Fruit
- Toxicity
- Seeds contain toxins so these should be removed if you are considering eating the fruit, usually grown as an ornamental shrub. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Grow in full sun for the best flowering and fruiting. See quince cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- Pruning group 2, or pruning group 13 if wall-trained
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects, brown scale and aphids
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to fireblight, blossom wilt, brown rot and honey fungus (rarely)