shrub RHS Award

Cameo Flowering Quince

Chaenomeles superba 'Cameo'

Not currently listed at our partner nurseries.

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Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

54 inches

Width

54 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low to Medium

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Long-lived

Native To

Hybrid Origin

Toxicity

Fruit is edible when cooked

The Story

Plant Bio

Flowering quince is a dense, spreading, often thorny deciduous shrub prized for its profuse, cup-shaped flowers that appear on bare branches before the leaves. 'Cameo' is celebrated for its beautiful, fully double flowers in a soft, delicate shade of peachy-pink or apricot, and it is nearly thornless, making it more garden-friendly.

Bloom Period:

EarlyLate

Uses & Benefits:

The exquisite, double, soft apricot-pink flowers of 'Cameo' are its main draw, providing a gentle and romantic start to the spring season. They are beautiful against the bare, dark stems. Its dense, spreading habit makes it a good filler shrub for the rest of the season.

This is a tough, adaptable, and low-maintenance shrub. Its drought tolerance makes it suitable for low-water landscapes. It can be used as a dense, informal barrier or hedge. The tart, apple-like fruits (quinces) can be harvested in fall to make jellies and preserves.

The very early flowers are a welcome food source for the first emerging bees and other pollinators of the season, providing crucial nectar when little else is in bloom.

Marketplace

Where to Buy

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Planting

How to Grow

Choose a location in full sun for the best flower production.
It adapts to a wide range of soils but prefers well-drained loam.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant's container.
Set the shrub in the hole at the same depth it was growing.
Backfill with soil and water thoroughly.
Water regularly for the first year; it is very drought-tolerant once established.

Pro Tip

Prune after flowering by removing the oldest, thickest stems at the base to encourage vigorous new growth and more flowers.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in full sun for maximum blooms.
Prune right after flowering to avoid cutting off next year's buds.
Cut branches in late winter to force into bloom indoors.
Remove any root suckers to maintain a tidy shape.

Don't

Don't prune in late summer, fall, or winter.
Avoid planting in shady spots, which will result in sparse flowering.
Don't overwater; it is susceptible to root rot in soggy soil.
Don't worry about its sparse, nearly thornless nature; it's a feature of 'Cameo'.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fertilize
Propagate
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Softly colored accent for a mixed shrub borderInformal, low-maintenance hedgeSource of beautiful branches for early spring forcing

Companion Plants

Forsythia x intermedia Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon' Narcissus 'Dutch Master' Helleborus Kerria japonica

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Cameo Flowering Quince questions

What zones can Cameo Flowering Quince grow in?

Cameo Flowering Quince is hardy in USDA Zones 5–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Cameo Flowering Quince deer resistant?

Yes — Cameo Flowering Quince is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Cameo Flowering Quince bloom?

Cameo Flowering Quince typically blooms in early spring through mid-spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Cameo Flowering Quince need full sun?

Cameo Flowering Quince does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Cameo Flowering Quince drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Cameo Flowering Quince handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.