Double Take Peach™ Flowering Quince

Double Take Peach™ Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa 'NCCS4') from Proven Winners® delivers one of the earliest and most striking spring flower shows you'll find. Fully double, peachy-pink blooms that look like miniature roses cover the branches in March and April, often weeks before most other shrubs even think about waking up. And here's what really sets it apart: it's completely thornless, so you can plant it right next to walkways, patios, and play areas without worry.

Why You'll Love Double Take Peach™ Flowering Quince

• Completely thornless: Unlike old-fashioned quince varieties covered in sharp spines, Double Take Peach™ is safe to plant near high-traffic areas, paths, and entryways
• Fully double blooms: Gorgeous peachy-pink flowers resemble miniature roses and put on a three to four week show in early spring
• Fruitless: No messy fruit dropping on walkways or attracting wasps. All the beauty, none of the cleanup
• Blooms after harsh winters: Flower buds are extremely cold-hardy, producing reliable color in zones 5 through 9 even after tough winters
• Excellent cut stems: Bring branches indoors in late winter to force early blooms. They're a favorite of floral designers for good reason
• Drought tolerant: Once established, this shrub requires very little supplemental watering

Growing Conditions

Double Take Peach™ Flowering Quince thrives in zones 5 through 9. Give it full sun (six or more hours of direct light) for the most abundant blooms. It will tolerate part shade, but flower production drops noticeably with less light.

This shrub adapts to just about any well-drained soil, including clay, loam, sand, and even rocky ground. The one thing it does not like is sitting in waterlogged soil. Once its root system is established (typically after the first full growing season), it's genuinely drought tolerant and thrives with minimal attention.

Size and Growth Habit

Double Take Peach™ is a fast grower that reaches 4 to 5 feet tall with a 4 to 5 foot spread at maturity. The upright, rounded form has a clean, well-branched structure that looks polished in the landscape even after the flowers fade. The dark green foliage fills in densely through summer, and a sporadic rebloom in fall occasionally surprises you with a second round of flowers.

Landscape Uses and Design Ideas

This is one of the best flowering shrubs for early spring impact. Plant it as a specimen near your front entrance where those early blooms will greet visitors, or mass several together for an informal hedge that lights up the neighborhood in March. Its thornless nature makes it perfect for informal flowering hedges along property lines and pathways.

Double Take Peach™ is a natural addition to cottage garden designs, where its rose-like blooms complement other early performers like forsythia, daffodils, and hellebores. Browse our collection of deer resistant plants to find companions that wildlife will leave alone.

Planting and Care Tips

Plant in spring or fall. Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball and at the same depth. Backfill with native soil (no need to amend heavily, as quince isn't fussy). Water well at planting and weekly through the first season, then let nature take over.

Prune immediately after spring flowering if needed, since next year's buds set on old wood. Avoid heavy pruning, as the natural form is one of its best qualities. This is a virtually carefree shrub once it settles in. For more early color ideas, check out our guide to plants for early spring color and learn the best timing in our pruning guide for flowering shrubs.