Prunus mume Seeds | Japanese Apricot
LATIN NAME: Prunus mume
COMMON NAME: Japanese Apricot, Chinese Plum, Ume
Plant Profile
Prunus mume, commonly known as Japanese Apricot, is a handsome, spreading tree in the rose family. Round, greenish-yellow fruits that follow are used to make pickles, sauces, syrups and plum wine, and tree has been cultivated in southern China for over three thousand years. Hardy, long-lived and deeply entwined with culture of China, Japan and Korea, it is emblem of winter and hope, and its blossoming is an event celebrated across the region. Add these qualities together and you have a species well worth a place in the garden.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Prunus mume ranges from the botany of the rose family to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Plum blossom tree has a rich record in both horticultural and food research. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Japanese Apricot works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. Ecologically, 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. Fruits are used to make pickles, sauces, syrups and plum wine, valued across East Asia, and tree is grown commercially for its fruit. Once it has settled, the workload drops to almost nothing.
The rose family’s great fruit genus gives plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds, all carotenoid- and polyphenol-rich; in Chinese medicine the kernels and fruits, from Xing Ren for coughs to Yu Li Ren for regularity, are classical herbs, always processed to manage their cyanogenic compounds.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Japanese Apricot under ordinary good conditions. Growing a plum blossom tree from seed is easy and very rewarding. In spring, bring pots to a bright spot and keep them moist. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. When the young plants are big enough to handle, space them into pots or a nursery row and let them size up before their final move.
Our Take
It grows as a handsome, spreading tree, so its place in the garden is easy to plan. Given the right start, Japanese Apricot, Chinese Plum, Ume is a long-term garden companion. Sun and good drainage cover most of its demands.
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