It is Loropetalum chinense,Chinese Fringe Flower
they are in bloom now and have a growing habit
that is similar to forsythia.
They should bloom almost all summer
into fall,Great fall color.
Butterfies and humming birds love
them.
Blueangel

From looking at pictures it could be either of those. The flowers are definitely red, no pink tint to them. The pictures I saw of the fringe flowers all looked kind of pinkish to me. There are no leaves on these shrubs yet, just blooms. Does the fringe flower bloom before the leaves come out??

I vote for quince since there are no leaves on the shrubs. Loropetalum are evergreen.

Most of the Loropetalum I have seen are more pinkish than red - I did see a new introduction a few weeks ago that was quite red, however. My vote goes for quince as well. By the way, quince flowers in white, apricot and pink, as well as red, but red is my favorite. Also, this probably is flowering quince, not the fruiting one, as they are 2 different species, but are frequently confused.

"The shape of the shrubs is similar to forsythia"
do quince have this same habit?
I know the Loropetalum dose that is
why I suggested that one the ones I
saw today at UNC Charlotte botanical
gardens were reddish in color
just a thought.

Blueangel

I think quince's natural form is more like forsythia than loropetalum, if left untrimmed. A bit more stiff and upright, but loropetalum seems taller, rangier and clumpy rather than a vase like shape that forsythia forms. Certainly lots of folks turn them both into meatballs (don't see too many loropetalum meatballs yet, thank goodness). And quince are typically warm red, salmon pink or white, whereas the loropetalums always seem to have a cool pinkish tone, and the leaves tend to be purplish, which makes the whole thing look purple NOT red. White flowers w/green leaved forms of loropetalum are available, but i've rarely seen them. Some of the leaves on the loropetalum do turn red in winter and fall, but it's never even close to bare, so if she saw a bare shrub with warm red flowers it was likely to be quince. We were at Duke gardens today and I noticed the quince were still blooming well, and now the foliage is coming in nicely. Mine has been blooming since january. Interesting that the 2 are related- as they don't seem much alike to me at all.

Thanks bullthistle and tamelask for
the info I always thought of quince
as and upright more tree like plant.

Blueangel

Blueangel- you may be thinking of real quince- the kind you eat, which is a different, though related plant. Don't see them much anymore, but they are a lot bigger and more upright. To confuse matters more, the flowering quince also has edible fruit, but as it's super hard it's mostly used for jellies. They're both related to apples. I believe the flowers on real quince are white or pale pink like apples.

Mystery solved! I went to Tom's Creek nursery outside of Asheboro today. I saw both the quince and the fringe flower. What I have been seeing in people's yards is the flowering quince. Thanks to all of you for the help with the id!

Good. I knew the lack of leaves was the determining factor.