Chaenomeles speciosa [Lemon Sorbet] ('Hillcha1')

Synonyms

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Hillcha1'

Fruit Edible Shrubs

A compact, deciduous shrub to around 150cm in height, sometimes up to 200cm, with glossy, mid-green leaves. Clusters of small, lemon-yellow flowers appear early in the season on bare, thorny branches from March to May, followed by small, yellow, apple-shaped aromatic fruit. These can be used to make jams and jellies, but please see notes on toxicity for further advice

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Fruit

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: Seeds contain toxins so these should be removed if you are considering eating the fruit; usually grown as an ornamental shrub. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Chaenomeles are deciduous, usually spiny shrubs with simple leaves and cup-shaped, 5-petalled flowers, solitary or clustered, in spring, followed by edible often fragrant green or yellow fruits
Name Status: Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun or part shade in well-drained soil, lime tolerant but may become chlorotic on very alkaline soils

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer or layering in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Climber and wall shrubs
Edible fruit
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens
Wall side borders

Pruning

pruning group 2, or pruning group 13 if wall-trained

Pests

May be susceptible to fireblight, blossom wilt, brown rot and honey fungus (rarely)

Diseases

May be susceptible to fireblight, blossom wilt, brown rot and honey fungus (rarely)