Japanese name: クサボケ（草木瓜） Scientific name:Chaenomeles japonica
[Overview]
A small deciduous shrub 0.3–1 m tall, found in sunny places in hills and mountains.
The trunk often creeps along the ground.
It branches freely, and the twigs become thorn-like.
Young branches are densely covered with coarse hairs, and later only the bases of the hairs remain as small projections, making the branches rough.
The leaves are simple and alternate, obovate, 2–5 cm long and 1–3.5 cm wide, with serrated margins.
The petiole is 0.5–1.3 cm long.
Three to five flowers are clustered in the leaf axils; they are vermilion-red, 5-petaled, and 2.5–3 cm across.
The fruit is a distorted sphere 3–4 cm across and ripens yellowish green.
[Uses]
The fruit is used medicinally.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, moisture-retentive, well-ventilated site.
In poor light, it flowers poorly.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for established plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil becomes severely dry.
Apply organic fertilizer in winter.
Watch for crown gall and rust.
