Ume, Japanese plum, Japanese apricot
Prunus mume

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows up to 6 m tall. It spreads 8 m wide. The leaves are 10 cm long. The flowers occur singly. They are 25 mm wide. They are pink or red. They have an almond scent. The fruit has one hard stone inside. The fruit are yellow and velvety. They are sour and edible.

There are about 200 Prunus species.

Where it is found

Temperate. It is frost hardy. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, China (country/location of origin), Europe, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan (country/location of origin), Korea, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh. The fruit are used as a source of sour flavouring. They are preserved and used in plum sauce. They can be pickled in salt. The fruit can be used for vinegar. The flowers are used for scenting tea.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed, cuttings or by grafting.

In Yunnan the fruit are harvested in August.

Its other names

Local names

Damasco-japones, Kangjue, Maesilnamu, Mei, Miume, Mo hoa-vang

Synonyms

Armeniaca mume Siebold; Prunus mume var. tonsa Rehder;