Prunus mume seed
LATIN NAME: PRUNUS MUME
COMMON NAME: Japanese Apricot, Chinese Plum, Ume
The plum blossom is the flower that announces spring in East Asia, and its bare branches, still touched with winter snow, covered in fragrant white, pink and red five-petalled flowers have been celebrated in poetry and painting for over a thousand years. The tree grows as a handsome, spreading tree or large shrub, three to six metres tall, with smooth bark and oval, toothed leaves, and it flowers in late winter and early spring, often while the ground is still frozen, before the leaves appear. The round, greenish-yellow fruits that follow are used to make pickles, sauces, syrups and plum wine, and the tree has been cultivated in southern China for over three thousand years. Hardy, long-lived and deeply entwined with the culture of China, Japan and Korea, it is the emblem of winter and hope, and its blossoming is an event celebrated across the region.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The plum blossom tree has a rich record in horticultural, food and genetic research. As one of the most important cultural and fruit trees of East Asia, it has been studied for its cultivation, its flowering and its many ornamental varieties, and breeders have worked on both its fruit quality and its flower forms. Food scientists study the fruits used in umeboshi pickles, sauces and plum wine, examining their acidity, flavour and traditional uses, and the tree is of botanical interest as a member of the rose family, related to the apricots and plums, with researchers studying its genetics and its relationships. For a tree of such beauty and culture, the plum blossom tree has a rich and practical record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the plum blossom tree is generous to the early garden. Its very early flowers feed bees and other pollinators when little else is in bloom, its fruits feed birds and small mammals, and its spreading crown gives shade and shelter. Economically, the fruits are used to make pickles, sauces, syrups and plum wine across East Asia, and the tree is grown commercially for its fruit and widely as an ornamental, its blossoming celebrated as a national event. For a grower it is a dual-purpose tree, and for a gardener it brings the first flowers of the year and a deep connection to East Asian culture.
To grow the Plum Blossom Tree from seed, to raise the plum blossom tree, remove the kernels from their hard stones, chill them in damp sand through the winter, then sow them in pots of moist, well-drained compost in spring.
remove the kernels from their hard stones, chill them in damp sand through the winter, then sow them in pots of moist, well-drained compost in spring, and keep the young plum trees lightly watered.
LATIN NAME: Prunus mume
COMMON NAME: Japanese Apricot, Chinese Plum, Ume
The plum blossom is the flower that announces spring in East Asia, and it has been celebrated in poetry and painting for over a thousand years. The tree itself grows as a handsome, spreading tree or large shrub, usually three to six metres tall, with smooth bark and oval, toothed leaves. In late winter and early spring, often while snow is still on the ground, its bare branches are covered with fragrant flowers in shades of white, pink and red, each with five rounded petals, a display that has made it one of the most beloved trees of China and Japan. These are followed by round, greenish-yellow fruits, which are used to make pickles, sauces and plum wine.
The plum blossom tree belongs to the rose family, Rosaceae, and it is native to southern China, where it has been cultivated for over three thousand years. It is a hardy, long-lived tree that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and it is one of the most important cultural plants of East Asia, the emblem of winter and hope.
Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide
Growing a plum blossom tree from seed is easy and very rewarding. The seeds sit inside the fruits, and they need a period of cold, moist conditions to germinate, so clean the seeds from the fruit in summer, and keep them cool and damp for two to three months, or sow them in pots and leave them outdoors through winter. In spring, bring the pots to a bright spot and keep them moist. Germination usually begins within four to eight weeks. Grow the young trees on in pots for a couple of years before planting out in a sunny, sheltered, well-drained spot. In a few years your tree will greet the end of winter with its first fragrant blossoms, a moment of pure joy.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The plum blossom tree has a rich record in both horticultural and food research. As one of the most important cultural and fruit trees of East Asia, it has been studied for its cultivation, its flowering and its many varieties, and breeders and researchers have examined its ornamental forms and its fruit quality. The fruits are used to make umeboshi pickles, sauces and plum wine, and food scientists have studied their flavour, their acidity and their traditional uses. The tree is also of botanical interest as a member of the rose family, related to the apricots and plums, and researchers have studied its genetics and its relationships. For a tree of such beauty and culture, the plum blossom tree has a rich and practical record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the plum blossom tree is a generous tree. Its very early flowers feed bees and other pollinators when little else is in bloom, its fruits feed birds and small mammals, and its spreading crown gives shade and shelter.
Its economic value is considerable. The fruits are used to make pickles, sauces, syrups and plum wine, valued across East Asia, and the tree is grown commercially for its fruit. It is also one of the most important ornamental trees of China and Japan, planted in gardens and celebrated in art, and its blossoming is a national event. For a grower, the plum blossom tree is a dual-purpose tree, and for a gardener it brings the first flowers of the year and a deep connection to East Asian culture.
Variety: Apricot Product Type:Bonsai Style:Perennial Applicable Constellation: Sagittarius Full-bloom Period:Autumn Flowerpot:Excluded Classification:Novel Plant Function:Beautifying Use:Outdoor Plants Type: Succulent Plants Location:Courtyard Cultivating Difficulty Degree:Very Easy Cultivation methods Seeding, 3-5 tablets per hole, height 5 cm to be thinning seedlings when required, in order to facilitate growth. Sprinkle fertilizer when the plant height 80 cm, so that the leaves and stems grow sufficiently, the water can not be too wet, so as not to affect plant growth. Plant spacing 40-60CM, height 5CM hours seedlings, plant height to two meters long, followed by desirable plants grew, and the distance to be sparse open, the more lush plants president. Quarterly fertilize once, well watered. Suitable for warm climates and soil fertility Ottawa moist environment, but must pay attention to timely drainage to avoid root rot caused by long-term water, multi-lateral bud growth topping can contribute, so that the plants flourish.