Removing leaves on Flowering Quince (Japanese quince) in Winter.

[RobertB]

So all my Japanese quince are still full of leaves. Most have buds swelling pretty rapidly and some are start to push a little. Flowers are definitely starting to show. I'm in zone 8b so i get zone 8 winter and zone 9 summer. Of coarse the winter can swing back to zone 9 winter pretty easily as its been 65 by day and 60 at night.

Is it ok to cut all the larger leaves off from this past year? I dont want to damage the plant or confuse it and get it to push. Not worried about it making through winter as I will protect anyways for anything under about 26 degrees. I just want flowers blooming on raw stems.

 

[drew33998]

You should leave them. The tree knows what’s best for it to do. Undoubtably it will start to push new leaves a couple weeks after you cut it. At least that’s what ours do in north Florida. Your winter must not be that cold either or it wouldn’t have leaves on it still.

 

[drew33998]

Of course if you want just the flowers then yes you can try to do that. Timing will be critical