Double Take Scarlet Storm Flowering Quince Shrub – Live Plant – 6-9 Inch Starter

Overview

Transform your garden into a spectacle of vivid color with the Double Take Scarlet Storm Flowering Quince. This exceptional deciduous shrub, scientifically known as Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Scarlet Storm’, is a true showstopper, celebrated for its striking, double, velvety, lipstick-red flowers that emerge profusely in early to mid-spring. Unlike traditional quinces, this variety is completely thornless, making it a safer and more enjoyable addition to any landscape. It’s an ideal choice for gardeners looking to introduce a dramatic splash of color and architectural interest. This particular offering is a well-rooted starter plant, approximately 6-9 inches tall, ready to establish itself in your garden and provide years of magnificent blooms. The Double Take Scarlet Storm variety is known for its robust nature and impressive floral display, making it a highly sought-after plant for both novice and experienced gardeners.

The Flowering Quince shrub is a hardy and adaptable plant, thriving in various conditions and proving to be a resilient choice for many regions. Its long blooming period, often with sporadic repeat blooms into summer, ensures extended visual appeal. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, this cultivar is also deer-resistant, providing peace of mind for those in areas where deer browsing is a concern. With its compact growth habit and minimal care requirements, the Double Take Scarlet Storm is a versatile shrub that can be used in mixed borders, as a specimen plant, or even in mass plantings for a truly breathtaking effect.

Key Benefits

The Double Take Scarlet Storm offers a multitude of benefits that make it a standout choice for any garden. Its unique characteristics contribute to a vibrant and low-maintenance landscape.

• Stunning Floral Display: Features large, double, velvety, lipstick-red flowers that create a dramatic visual impact in spring. These showy blooms are a central highlight of the Flowering Quince shrub.
• Long Blooming Period: Enjoy an extended period of color, with primary blooms in spring and occasional repeat flowering throughout the summer, ensuring continuous garden interest.
• Thornless Variety: Unlike many traditional quinces, this cultivar is completely thornless, making it safer and easier to handle during planting and pruning. This makes for a more pleasant gardening experience.
• Deer-Resistant: A significant advantage for gardeners in areas prone to deer, as this shrub is naturally resistant to browsing, protecting your investment and garden beauty. It’s a truly deer resistant shrub.
• No Fruit Set: This non-fruiting variety means no messy fruit dropping, simplifying garden cleanup and allowing the plant’s energy to focus on its spectacular flowers.
• Excellent Cut Flowers: The vibrant red blooms make exceptional cut flowers, bringing the beauty of your garden indoors to enhance any floral arrangement.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, this shrub requires minimal care, making it an ideal choice for busy gardeners or those seeking an easy-to-grow plant.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Ensuring the health and vitality of your Double Take Scarlet Storm Flowering Quince involves understanding its specific needs for sunlight, soil, and watering. This resilient shrub is relatively easy to care for, making it a rewarding addition to most gardens. For optimal growth and the most abundant blooms, plant your Double Take Scarlet Storm in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, full sun promotes the best flowering performance and overall plant vigor. The ideal USDA hardiness zone for this plant is Zone 5, indicating its ability to withstand winter temperatures down to -20°F to -10°F, ensuring it’s a winter hardy deciduous shrub.

When it comes to soil, this thornless quince plant prefers consistently moist, well-draining soil. Avoid areas where water tends to sit, as this can lead to root rot. Amending heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost can significantly improve drainage. Once established, the shrub is moderately drought-tolerant, but regular watering during dry spells, especially in its first year, will encourage strong root development. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer designed for flowering shrubs to support vigorous growth and abundant blooms. Pruning is best done after spring flowering to shape the plant and remove any dead or crossing branches. Minimal pruning is typically required, mainly for aesthetic purposes or to maintain desired size.

While generally robust, monitor for common shrub pests or diseases, though the Double Take Scarlet Storm is not typically prone to serious issues. Its inherent resistance to deer also reduces a common garden challenge. Proper spacing, allowing for good air circulation, can help prevent fungal problems. With these straightforward care guidelines, your Chaenomeles Double Take will flourish, providing a stunning display of color year after year.

Size & Details

The Double Take Scarlet Storm offered is a well-rooted starter plant, typically measuring approximately 6-9 inches in height upon arrival. This size is ideal for establishing quickly in your garden, allowing for robust root development before it begins its vigorous growth. As a mature Flowering Quince shrub, it can reach a height of 4-5 feet tall and spread equally wide, forming a dense, rounded habit. Its moderate growth rate means it will fill out within a few seasons, providing significant landscape impact. This variety is known for its compact nature, making it suitable for various garden sizes and uses.

The plant is shipped in a 3 x 4 inch pot, ensuring the root system is protected and well-established, ready for transplanting. While it does not set fruit, its primary ornamental value lies in its abundant, large, double, lipstick-red flowers. Expect the main flush of blooms in spring, with occasional repeat blooms during the summer months, extending the season of interest. The substantial size it achieves at maturity makes it an excellent choice for foundation plantings, hedges, or as a striking specimen plant in a border. Its hardiness and aesthetic appeal ensure it will be a cherished part of your landscape for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Double Take Scarlet Storm plant get? A: The Double Take Scarlet Storm typically grows to a mature height and width of 4-5 feet, forming a dense, rounded deciduous shrub. The starter plant you receive will be approximately 6-9 inches tall.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This is an outdoor deciduous shrub, specifically a Flowering Quince shrub, best suited for garden beds, borders, or as a landscape plant. It is winter hardy in USDA Zone 5.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For the best flowering performance and overall health, the Double Take Scarlet Storm requires full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate partial shade but may produce fewer blooms.
• Q: Is this thornless quince plant easy to care for? A: Yes, this is a relatively low-maintenance shrub once established. It’s known for its hardiness and adaptability, making it a good choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Double Take Scarlet Storm will arrive as a well-rooted starter plant, approximately 6-9 inches tall, planted in a 3 x 4 inch pot, carefully packaged to ensure its health during transit.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this deer resistant shrub? A: The best time to plant is in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. This allows the plant to establish its root system before extreme heat or cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, this Chaenomeles variety is winter hardy in USDA Zone 5, meaning it can withstand temperatures down to -10 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a deciduous shrub, so it will lose its leaves in winter.
• Q: Does the Double Take Scarlet Storm produce fruit? A: No, this specific cultivar is a non-fruiting variety, which means it will not produce the small, hard quinces typically associated with other Chaenomeles varieties. This eliminates messy fruit drop.
• Q: Can I use the flowers as cut flowers? A: Absolutely! The vibrant, lipstick-red blooms of the Chaenomeles Double Take make excellent and long-lasting cut flowers, perfect for bringing a splash of color indoors.
• Q: What kind of soil does it prefer? A: This plant thrives in consistently moist, well-draining soil. It’s adaptable to various soil types but performs best in loamy soil with good organic content.