Chaenomeles speciosa Chinese Quince

A spiny deciduous shrub, native to China, which produces striking, rose-like, red flowers. It has been cultivated in Britain since 1796 and is popular in gardens. First recorded wild in Britain in 1963 but it rarely regenerates or becomes naturalised. It may persist as a relic of cultivation for a long time although it has rarely been recorded in West Glamorgan. Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles japonica) and the hybrid Chaenomeles speciosa x Chaenomeles japonica (= Chaenomeles x superba) may also occur but the 3 taxa can be difficult to separate and indentify.

Neophyte