Quince Double Take Scarlet

Double Take® Scarlet Quince is a show-stopping spring-flowering shrub covered in large, double scarlet-red flowers that resemble camellia blooms. Flowers appear along the branches in early to mid-spring, often before the foliage fully emerges, creating an impressive burst of color when the landscape is just beginning to wake up. Unlike traditional flowering quince, Double Take® varieties are thornless, making them easier to enjoy around garden beds, walkways, and other frequently used areas.

Growing approximately 4–5 feet tall and wide, Double Take® Scarlet develops into a dense, rounded shrub that works beautifully as a specimen, flowering hedge, foundation planting, or colorful addition to a mixed shrub border. Its vivid spring flowers also provide an early-season food source for visiting pollinators. This variety is grown primarily for its ornamental flowers rather than fruit production and is a hardy, dependable choice for New England landscapes.

Maintenance: Plant in full sun to partial sun, with full sun providing the best flowering. It adapts to a range of soils but performs best in well-drained conditions. Water regularly during the first growing season and during extended dry periods once established. If shaping is needed, prune after flowering has finished in spring, since the following year’s flowers develop on older growth. Remove dead or damaged branches as needed, and avoid heavy late-season pruning that could reduce the next spring’s flower display.

Photo from Pride Corner Farms.