What is the difference between plum blossoms and cherry blossoms? A quick guide to telling them apart

Every time the spring flowers bloom, all kinds of beautiful flowers vie with each other to open, making people dazzled. Among them, plum blossoms and cherry blossoms are hard for many people to tell apart, and many people confuse them. Below we introducethe differences between plum blossoms and cherry blossoms.

Difference one: different tree species

The plum blossom is the flower of the plum tree (Prunus salicina), a deciduous small tree of the genus Prunus in the rose family (Rosaceae). Its bark is grayish brown, old branches are purplish brown or reddish brown, and young twigs are yellow-red. The leaves are oblong-obovate or long elliptic, with tips that are acuminate, acute, or shortly caudate, wedge-shaped bases, and edges with rounded blunt double serrations, often mixed with single serrations. The cherry blossom is the flower of cherry blossom-type plants, deciduous trees of the genus Cerasus in the rose family (Rosaceae). Its bark is gray, young branches are light purplish brown, and tender twigs are green. The leaves are elliptic-ovate or obovate, with tips that are acuminate or abruptly caudate, rounded bases, rarely wedge-shaped, and edges with sharp double serrations whose tooth tips are acuminate.

Difference two: different flowers

1. Blooming period: The blooming periods of plum blossoms and cherry blossoms are both around April, and neither grows directly on the branches; usually several flowers gather together and open in clusters. However, plum blossoms generally show flowers and leaves on the branches at the same time, while cherry blossoms generally bloom before the leaves or with the leaves.

2. Flower stalk: The flower stalk of the plum blossom is shorter; its length makes the flowers opening in clusters look less crowded, yet just enough to support the corolla, letting them face every direction brightly. The flower stalk of the cherry blossom is longer; after the buds open, the cherry blossom shyly hangs down its face, and people can clearly see its delicate petals and fine stamens.

3. Size: The flowers of the plum blossom are smaller, 1.5-2.2 cm in diameter; the flowers of the cherry blossom are larger, 3-3.5 cm in diameter.

4. Petals: Plum blossoms are generally single-petaled, with white petals in an oblong-obovate shape, and the petals have no notch; cherry blossoms come in single and double forms, with white or pink petals in an elliptic-ovate shape, with a small notch (petal notch) at the tip.

5. Fragrance: Plum blossoms are fragrant; cherry blossoms, though scented, are very faint.

Difference three: different flower meanings

The flower meaning of the plum blossom is purity; the cherry blossom is a symbol of love and hope, representing elegant, simple and pure love.