Chaenomeles Superba Jet Trail

Chaenomeles Superba Jet Trail, more commonly known as Japanese Quince Jet Trail or Flowering Quince, is a small upright shrub with dainty, white flowers. The dense, spreading habit and thorny stems make this variety of Japanese Quince an excellent choice for hedges and borders.

An early bloomer, Chaenomeles Superba Jet Trail forms clusters of flowers before the foliage fully unfolds. At the beginning of the spring, white, cup-shaped blossoms emerge on bare woody stems. Not long after, the blossoms are followed by dark green, glossy, obovate leaves, formed along the spiny stems. In the autumn, the flowers give way to small, yellowish fruit with a pleasant fragrance. Although inedible when raw, the tiny quince-like fruit this ornamental shrub produces can be used for preserves.

Chaenomeles Superba Jet Trail flowers prolifically when in full sun, but it fares well in partial shade, too. Same as other Japanese Quince varieties, Jet Trail is easily grown in most types of soil, but prefers soil with good drainage. In ideal conditions, this shrub can grow to be 1 to 1.5 metres tall and 1.5 to 2.5 metres wide. 

This deciduous, flowering shrub is hardy through most of the UK, but long, cold winters may result in stem dieback or foliage damage. In parts of Britain and Ireland where temperatures drop significantly below zero degrees in the winter, Flowering Quince should be sheltered from frost.

Easy to care for, this shrub requires minimal pruning. Immediately after flowering, cut down around 20% of oldest stems, to promote new growth. Avoid cutting down the previous year’s growth, or your shrub won’t bloom. 

Apart from being prone to fungal leaf spot or fireblight in certain conditions, Chaenomeles Superba Jet trail is a robust plant, relatively resistant to most pests and diseases.

When planted en masse, Japanese Quince Jet Trail makes a great flowering hedge. The broad, spreading habit and spiny, tangled twigs make it a perfect choice for hedges and borders, but it’s also suitable for espaliering. Besides being a highly decorative addition to your garden in the springtime, Flowering Quince’s twigs can be used for centerpieces- when cut, the bare stems adorned with delicate white flowers make elegant bouquets. 

The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark this flowering shrub has will ensure your garden is buzzing with bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects that feed on pollen and nectar.