Young Chaenomeles

My first experience of growing Chaenomeles, I have a young 'Geisha Girl' planted out from a 3 litre pot a few months ago.

It's growing nicely and flowering but the branches are spindly. Would it make any difference if I removed the growing tips to help them fill out, or will they fill out as it matures? Also, it now has some small fruit, would it be best to remove those for this current season?

 

I think that chaenomeles grow like that anyway. I actually like it, when they mature a bit more the trunks can look quite architectural and there's something nice about having plants that grow in a more naturalistic wild way. They are not rounded bushy plants and I embrace that with mine. It can be used for contrast

I guess if you removed the fruit, the plant would focus more on growing. But I like the fruit, so I don't think I would remove it regardless, personally

 

I hadn’t heard of this before @Sheal but @CostasK ’s post encouraged me to find out more. Burncoose produce detailed and often amusing care guides. This is helpful. ‘Geisha Girl’ is described as more compact and is considered as ground cover so that would explain the spreading habit:

Chaenomeles - Growing Guide - Burncoose Nurseries

 

Thank you both for your replies.

I read the information from Burncoose @Plantminded and I dispute what they say about it's growing habit. 2 1/2 ft after 25 years? I tend to avoid this nursery as they've given false information before.

I bought it having read the RHS's information below so I'm expecting it to reach around 5-6ft. Already my young plant has grown at least 3 in.

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Geisha Girl' (d)|Japanese quince 'Geisha Girl'/RHS Gardening

Looking at other nursery sites they give similar sizing to the RHS. None of them seem to give pruning information for a young plant though.

 

Oh, sorry about that @Sheal, I have usually found their information accurate. Maybe I’m biased by the black labrador that often appears in the videos with the owner .

 

Interesting source from burncose.

The speciosas here grow to 3-4m but I dont know the variety. They are quite spindley though.

Hard pruning will probably encourage it to sucker from the base and form a little thicket like hazels do, so careful not to prune too much if you dont want that.

 

Thanks for the article @Plantminded ! Very interesting. I love chaenomeles (though I understand that the growth habit might not be for everyone).

I have a "little geisha" actually. She is compact, but personally I wouldn't call her a ground cover. These days I have her in a large pot, and it works well this way. I love the colour of the blooms.


I also have 2 bigger ones, that have double blooms, no thorns and do not produce fruit. I like the growth habit of these, but I do miss the fruit (and I prefer the single flowers). I believe the variant is "pink storm". One year the blooms were red instead of pink, which was interesting. I now have these in the ground.




My favourite though was the first chaenomeles I ever bought ("crimson & gold"). Very prolific bloomer and gorgeous. Sadly it died this year. I think it was a combination of things that did it, but it didn't help that the pot it was in probably wasn't big enough - I was really surprised when I took it out and saw how extensive the roots were! If they are to be kept in pots long term, they clearly need big ones.

 

Not a problem @Plantminded . I don't know what their plants are like. On the odd occasion I've wanted to buy from them I've not only found them expensive but their postal prices are way over what other nurseries charge. They also add a surcharge for delivering here to the Highlands.

Thank you @Adam I . I hadn't thought about them suckering so I'll hold fire and revisit the idea of pruning next year. Any thoughts on removing the fruit please?

Oh and completely aside from plants. Every time I see your avatar I think I recognise that face, am I right or wrong?

They look lovely @CostasK and thank you for saying you don't consider 'Geisha Girl' to be ground cover. Mine is planted against a 6ft dry stone wall and would look completely lost if it was only ground cover.

 

I would personally remove the fruit purely to get the roots developed better but it might not be a difference. 2 small fruit isnt much jam to make! But your choice.

When they sucker they do it from the stem, they dont run underground like wild plums or bamboo.

Unless you live in my village I dont think youd recognize me! sorry

 

That's what I was thinking, thanks. I won't be making jam, so not a problem.

Thanks for answering my nosey question.

 

They're often used around here as part of the boundary, and although they aren't always a hedge as such, they form nice stand alone shrubs. They do seem to get quite robust as they age, but again, climate and conditions will be a factor.
I've often thought of having one or two for walls/fences, but have never quite got round to it. Lovely pix @CostasK . I love the dark/rich reds.

I find Burncoose pretty good too, but delivery charges where you are can be prohibitive @Sheal - regardless of the supplier. I don't think people realise just how expensive it can be further north, unless you're just buying from a local outlet, and then you don't always get the range of plants that other areas can get. Have you looked at Ballyrobert Nursery [N. Ireland] ? They have very competitive prices for plants, and delivery as well, although I don't know what it would be for yourself.

 

Thanks for posting your photos @CostasK, it's a very attractive plant, a bit like an overblown Cotoneaster, in a good way .

 

That link from Burncoose has got me thinking about the definition of ground cover. The RHS list of suitable plants at the bottom of this article surprised me:

Ground cover plants / RHS

 

That's an interesting read @Plantminded. I don't consider most of those as ground cover, they are too tall. My thoughts on ground cover plants are those that spread and hug the ground, no more than a few inches tall. They are something I'm investing in - in this new garden of mine due to all the cats in the neighbourhood. Taller plants as suggested by the RHS wouldn't work as they would use the space underneath them as a toilet.

 

I've looked at Ballyrobert in the past @fairygirl but have never bought from them. If I'm honest I tend to forget they exist, so I'll try and remember when I'm searching next time. Up here, although a garden centre and not a nursery, I find Simpsons Garden Centre in Inverness quite good. They do have a good selection of plants, not just the usual common stock that most garden centres hold. They are well looked after by the staff who actually have plant knowledge, prices are reasonable and plant sizes good.