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Prunus salicina is often confused with:
Prunus mume Prunus mume
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Aesculus sylvatica Aesculus sylvatica
Prunus cerasifera Prunus cerasifera
Prunus domestica Flower detail and leaves

Prunus salicina

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PROO-nus sah-lih-SEE-nuh
Description

Japanese Plums are small flowering trees that bloom earlier in the spring and their fruits ripen earlier in the summer than European plums.  They also typically require fewer chilling hours than European plums to set fruit.  

Cultivars of this tree dominate the market for plums in this and other countries and tend to have larger fruits.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Burbank', 'Byrongold', 'Methley', 'Ozark Premier'
Tags:
#cultivars#deciduous#small tree#white flowers#spring flowers#flowering tree#edible fruits#pollinator plant#larval host plant#fruits summer#deciduous tree#butterfly friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Burbank', 'Byrongold', 'Methley', 'Ozark Premier'
Tags:
#cultivars#deciduous#small tree#white flowers#spring flowers#flowering tree#edible fruits#pollinator plant#larval host plant#fruits summer#deciduous tree#butterfly friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Prunus
    Species:
    salicina
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used in Chinese herbal medicine
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Russia, China, Vietnam, Taiwan
    Wildlife Value:
    This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
    Edibility:
    Fruits are edible raw or cooked. Fruit can be candied or made into a liqueur, pies, preserves or dried
    Dimensions:
    Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 33 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is a red to purple juicy drupe 1.5 to 3 in. in diameter with yellow-pink flesh. Harvested in the summer
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    White five petaled flowers appear in the spring
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are 2-4 in. long and 1-2 in. wide, with a serrated margin
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses