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Plant care

Crimson and Gold quince (Crimson and Gold flowering quince) care

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Crimson and Gold'

Also called Crimson and Gold quince, Crimson and Gold flowering quince.

RHS H5USDA 5-9Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 0.8–1.5 m tall

Watering rhythm

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Weekly when newly planted; established plants largely rain-fed in temperate climates

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Well-drained loam, clay loam, or sandy loam

Humidity

Ambient outdoor humidity

Temp

-20 to 35°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

0.8–1.5 m tall

Care at a glance

Light

Crimson and Gold quince is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Full sun gives the richest flower colour and densest habit. Tolerates partial shade but flowers are less prolific. Can be trained on any aspect of a wall, including north-facing in mild UK climates. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water crimson and gold quince weekly when newly planted; established plants largely rain-fed in temperate climates. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Drought-tolerant once established. Water during dry spells in the first two growing seasons. Good drainage is essential — avoid clay soils that sit wet in winter without amendment.

Soil and pot

Crimson and Gold quince grows best in well-drained loam, clay loam, or sandy loam. Tolerates a wide pH range (5.5–7.5) including slightly alkaline conditions. Amend heavy clay with grit; mulch with composted bark to retain moisture and improve structure around the root zone. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Crimson and Gold quince sits happiest at around Ambient outdoor humidity humidity and -20 to 35°C (-4 to 95°F). Fully hardy across UK garden conditions, including exposed sites and coastal gardens. No special humidity management needed. Good airflow helps prevent fungal leaf diseases. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed crimson and gold quince sparingly. Apply a balanced granular feed (e.g., Growmore) in early spring. Follow with a high-potassium feed (tomato fertiliser or sulphate of potash) in midsummer to ripen wood and promote flower bud formation for next year. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on crimson and gold quince in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Scale insects — Brown or grey waxy scale on stems, causing stunted growth and sooty mould below. Treat with horticultural oil when dormant in late winter; target crawlers with systemic insecticide in early summer.
  • Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) — Blackened, wilted shoot tips in spring, often during warm wet weather. Remove infected wood 30 cm below visible damage into clean wood; sterilise tools; avoid high-nitrogen feeding that creates susceptible soft growth.
  • 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.

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings 8–10 cm in late summer with bottom heat and rooting hormone. Simple layering is reliable and straightforward. Remove rooted suckers from the base in autumn. Seed propagation does not reproduce cultivar traits. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Crimson and Gold quince is mildly toxic to pets. Chaenomeles seeds contain amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside found across the Rosaceae family. Cooked fruit is edible; raw seeds should not be eaten by pets or humans. ASPCA does not list this species individually; treat as mildly toxic based on seed content and family precedent. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Crimson and Gold quince care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Chaenomeles speciosa 'Crimson and Gold'?

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Crimson and Gold' is most commonly called Crimson and Gold quince, but it is also known as Crimson and Gold quince, Crimson and Gold flowering quince. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Crimson and Gold quince apply identically to anything sold as Crimson and Gold flowering quince.

How much light does crimson and gold quince need?

Crimson and Gold quince grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Full sun gives the richest flower colour and densest habit. Tolerates partial shade but flowers are less prolific. Can be trained on any aspect of a wall, including north-facing in mild UK climates.

How often should I water crimson and gold quince?

Water crimson and gold quince weekly when newly planted; established plants largely rain-fed in temperate climates. Drought-tolerant once established. Water during dry spells in the first two growing seasons. Good drainage is essential — avoid clay soils that sit wet in winter without amendment. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is crimson and gold quince toxic to cats and dogs?

Crimson and Gold quince is mildly toxic to pets. Chaenomeles seeds contain amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside found across the Rosaceae family. Cooked fruit is edible; raw seeds should not be eaten by pets or humans. ASPCA does not list this species individually; treat as mildly toxic based on seed content and family precedent.

What USDA hardiness zone does crimson and gold quince grow in?

Crimson and Gold quince is rated for USDA zone 5-9 and RHS hardiness H5. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Crimson and Gold quince deep-dive guides

Every aspect of crimson and gold quince care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Crimson and Gold quince qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Crimson and Gold quince is also commonly called Crimson and Gold quince or Crimson and Gold flowering quince.