What are Quince Shrubs? 

Quince is a member of the rose family, and like their cousins, they produce beautiful blooms in shades of red, pink, orange, or white. The flowers appear in early spring, filling the air with a sweet, fruity fragrance that's simply irresistible. These deciduous shrubs have a fairly sporadic, upright growing pattern and will start leafing out as soon as February in some cases here in Hampton Roads. After about 2 weeks of blooming, you may start to see small pear-shaped fruits on certain varieties, covered in a golden fuzz that hints at the tart goodness inside. Quince fruits are mostly used for jams and jellies rather eating it than right off the bush. 

Quince Care

Quince shrubs are relatively easy to care for, making them a great addition to any garden or patio for blooming shrub enthusiasts. Here are some tips to get you started: 

Light - Quince shrubs love full sun (12+ hours per day), although they can also tolerate some shade. 

Watering - Keep watering consistent but be careful not to overdo it as quince shrubs are susceptible to root rot.

Soil - Quince shrubs thrive in a well-draining soil. Soil amendments will vary depending on if you are planting in a pot or directly into the ground, so make sure to ask our Green Team members what options are best for you. 

Pruning - Make sure to only prune when your quince is needing shaping. This can be done lightly after blooming. However, you can also prune your shrub more aggressively in the winter before new growth appears to cut away any dead or damaged branches.

Plant Food - Feed your quince shrub in early spring to encourage healthy growth.

Things to Look Out For

Although quince shrubs are pretty low-maintenance, that doesn’t mean that they will never hit any speed bumps on their growing journey. When caring for quince, or any other shrub, you will want to be checking them for changes over the seasons to make sure they are staying strong and healthy and not invaded by pests or diseases. 

Leaf Changes - Since quince are deciduous shrubs, their leaves will be changing annually. However, it is important to note that you don’t have abnormal yellowing on your quince at the wrong times of year. This could be a soil pH issue, which we can test for you at our Garden Pharmacy desk at our year-round locations. 

Bare Stems - Quince is a stunning spring shrub but it doesn’t bloom all year round. This can be disappointing to some gardeners that love to see their shrubs flowering for longer periods of time. Pairing your quince closely with other shrubs in your garden of different blooming times can aid in this issue in the colder months of the year.

The quince shrub is a true treasure of the botanical world. They're easy to care for, resilient, and create gorgeous blooms in spring. So why not add a quince shrub to your landscape today and enjoy the beauty and bounty it brings? To learn more about what’s growing on at our garden center, check out Mike, the Garden Guru, and his webinars with new plants, products, and expert planting advice. To keep inspired and grow with us, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok to dig into the joys of gardening!