Japanese quince

Appearance: a spreading small shrub, 1 m in height and width, slow-growing.

Flowers: brick-red or scarlet, appearing before the leaves open.

Fruits: apple-shaped, greenish-yellow, fragrant, edible.

Leaves: broadly ovate, glossy, dark green.

Root system: shallow, sensitive to soil compaction, forms suckers.

Requirements: sun/partial shade, relatively winter-hardy; flowers are sensitive to wind, so it requires a sheltered location.

Soils: well-drained, fertile, relatively dry.

Zone: 5a