If spring-flowering quince is not on your list of favorites because its thorns may prick you, you will be happy to know there’s a new no-thorn variety available this year.

The new Double Take series of thornless quinces features three flower colors — red, pink and orange hues. In addition, the flowers contain higher petal counts, and resemble camellias more than classic quince. A breeding team at North Carolina State University developed the variety for Spring Meadow Nursery, which markets new plants under the Proven Winners ColorChoice brand.

Also known as Chaenomeles, or Japanese quince, the deciduous shrub flowers before leaves appear, creating an eye-catching contrast of colorful blooms on bare wood.

Flowering quince is cold hardy in USDA zones 5-8, and likes part to full sun. It blooms February through April, depending on your climate conditions.

Drought tolerant after its roots establish themselves the first year, the plant is fruitless so it makes no mess that you need to clean up in your yard.

Key features of the Double Take series include:

• Scarlet Storm with dark red, velvety double flowers that occasionally bloom again and again. Flowers appear all the way out to the tips of its branches, unlike many flowering quinces.

• Pink Storm with 2-inch flowers that resemble sweetheart roses in a salmon or coral color.

• Orange Storm with bright orange camellia-like blooms that occasionally bloom again and again.

In addition to garden centers, you can get Double Take flowering quince through White Flower Farm at www.whiteflowerfarm.com and Garden Crossings at www.gardencrossings.com.

Learn more about Proven Winners plants at www.provenwinners.com.