Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
I HOPE YOU CAN FIND ROOM IN YOUR GARDEN for Chaenomeles x superba ‘Cameo.’ For three luxurious weeks each May, this flowering quince adorns itself in hundreds of peachy, fully-double, antique rose-type flowers. They are the kind of flowers which inspire poets, painters, and yes — even amateur photographers like me:
This sun-loving shrub, which blooms immediately after its brother, ‘Crimson and Gold,’ requires no care whatsoever. Give it regular watering the first summer after planting, and thereafter you need not bother. I prune mine lightly after flowering just to keep it within bounds (it can achieve a height and width of five feet).
Lovely flowers aren’t Cameo’s only value. When the stems drop their leaves in autumn, a vast quantity of edible fruit becomes apparent. If you don’t wish to cook the fruit — I’ll admit it takes quite a bit of boiling to soften the rock-hard flesh — you can simply savor its fragrance. A few golden quinces — preferably placed in a decorative bowl — will scent an entire room.
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Katreader says
You're flowering quince is beautiful. I have one and love it. My mom gave it to me after the bunnies in her garden tried to make a complete meal out of it. My bunnies couldn't care less about it and it's thriving. It's putting on a great show now-but I get flowers all through the year! I guess it really likes it here. I'll have to snap some photos.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Katreader – Sounds like you have a very special quince. Any idea what the variety is?
Adele says
Absolutely gorgeous! That's a must-have plant!!!
Yolanda says
Beautiful! That's my favorite color, too. Must buy this quince. The flowers do look like little roses.
Carol says
Quince is one of my favorite flowering shrubs. Certainly love this one. What a shade!
Kristina says
I thought quince was a tropical zone plant? I live in upstate NY and would love to have this on the land. Any suggestions where to get one in the Catskill area? Is now a good time to plant it? Many thanks!!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Kristina – You can certainly grow this great shrub in the Catskill area! Check with your local, independent garden center. If they don’t have it, they should be willing to order it for you.
Nadya says
Hi, Kevin! My Cameo Quince is blooming nicely for several years, but it never produced fruit. Could you give me any clue, what goes wrong? Thank you!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Nadya – I can’t imagine why your ‘Cameo’ isn’t setting fruit. Mine always does. It is possible you live where winters are mild? From what I’ve read, the shrub needs a definite cold period to flower and fruit well.
Nadya says
I live in Ohio, NW
It does not give any fruit, and also, flowers are very sensitive to touch, if you do it flower will fall down right away
Candy says
I have a ‘Cameo’ as well and I don’t think it sets fruit. One idea I have is that it is against a wall that gets intense sun for much of the day. Are they sensitive to transplanting? Maybe if it was moved to a colder spot that would help?
Tere says
My husband just gave me this beautiful bush as a Mother’s Day gift. Its in the bucket from the nursery and full of buds! I can hardly wait. It is amazing that they thrive in Maine but apparently they do.
Debbie Dillingham says
I have been looking for a cameo quince for my mother. She had a beautiful one at the house that she had to leave when my dad became ill. Do you know where I can purchase one?
Kathleen Stoltzfus says
Does the cameo need another variety to set fruit?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Kathleen – It’s possible. My ‘Cameo’ is planted beside flowering quince ‘Crimson and Gold.’ Both shrubs produce fruit for me.
Sherry Milen says
Hi Kevin,
I hate to rain on the cameo quince parade but… I bought 5 of these beautiful little bushes after reading the tag which I believe said 3-4 ft tall and 5 ft wide. I have very large flower beds (HUGE) so they sounded perfect and I love the peach color. However, after 4 years with consistent pruning these bushes have become Horribly invasive as they spread by underground runners/roots. WAAAAY underground. They have spread more than 5 ft in each direction which makes them a minimum of 10ft in diameter! Mt husband and I have been working at digging them out since the spring. We have managed to get 3 of them out. After digging a DEEP crater around them and cutting most of the roots we could get to we have had to pull them out with his 4 wheel drive pick-up truck. And this took a lot of pulling and chopping of more roots with a pick ax. In no time little sprouts start coming out of any little root left in the ground. We have spent untold hours digging and cutting and pulling. My point is – there is no warning on the tag or in any description I have read as to the unfettered invasive aspect of this plant. Sooo, I would like to warn people that while they are very pretty while in bloom don’t plant them anywhere you don’t plan on leaving them permanently unless you have a full size Backhoe to get them out.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Sherry Milen – My ‘Cameo’ is nearly 10 years old now, and while it has increased in size (and beauty), it has not spread itself by underground roots. My guess? Your shrubs were incorrectly labeled by the seller.
Sherry Milen says
Hi Kevin – I have the original tag from the plants. They are “Cameo flowering quince” and they look exactly like the pictures above. The Supplier or Grower name on the tag is Valley Select.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Well, if they look like mine, then they are indeed Cameo. Too bad they decided to behave in such a deplorable manner! You have my empathy — ’tis no fun dealing with aggressive plants.