Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Crimson and Gold quince bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Crimson and Gold quince, Crimson and Gold flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa 'Crimson and Gold').
More about crimson and gold quince
About Crimson and Gold quince
Chaenomeles speciosa 'Crimson and Gold' · also called Crimson and Gold quince, Crimson and Gold flowering quince · flowering
Crimson and Gold flowering quince is a compact, thorny deciduous shrub celebrated for its vivid deep-crimson petals contrasted by a bold boss of golden-yellow stamens, appearing in late winter and early spring. An RHS Award of Garden Merit holder, it is tough, adaptable, and excellent for low hedges, slopes, or wall training in exposed temperate gardens.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Reluctance to flower on young plants: May take 2–3 years to flower freely after planting or hard pruning. Avoid heavy nitrogen; prune lightly immediately after flowering (not in autumn, which removes next year's buds) to encourage spur development.
The reasons crimson and gold quince isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming crimson and gold quince traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding crimson and gold quince a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get crimson and gold quince to flower
- Maximise sun. Give crimson and gold quince the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for crimson and gold quince and get the feeding right with the crimson and gold quince fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Crimson and Gold quince flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full crimson and gold quince care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Crimson and Gold quince blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my crimson and gold quince flower?
Crimson and Gold quince blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make crimson and gold quince bloom?
Give crimson and gold quince the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does crimson and gold quince normally bloom?
Crimson and Gold quince flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with crimson and gold quince after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping crimson and gold quince flowering?
Feeding crimson and gold quince a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Crimson and Gold quince care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Crimson and Gold quince light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Crimson and Gold quince fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 3229 bloom guides in the Growli library