Plum blossom tree: timing of leaf drop, flowering, fruiting and new leaf growth, plus main ornamental varieties and locations

Plum blossoms generally bloom in winter and spring, fruit in May-June (in North China the fruiting period extends to July-August), drop their leaves in autumn, and sprout and grow new leaves in spring. Plum tree varieties can be divided into fruiting plums and flowering plums; the main ornamental ones are flowering plums, which can further be divided into the upright-branch plum type, the waterside plum type, the dragon-wandering plum type and the apricot plum type.

1. Upright-branch plum type

The branches are upright or obliquely spreading. According to flower shape and flower color, it is divided into the following seven forms.

1. Jiangmei form

Flowers dish-shaped, single-petaled, in colors such as pure white, water red, flesh color or peach red. There are 29 varieties, such as Danfen, Danbanhong, Yang Guifei, Xiaoyudie, Baimi and so on.

2. Gongfen form

Flowers dish-shaped, semi-double to double, pink. Currently 75 varieties are known, such as Gongfen, Fenzuizi, Qianyehong, Nanjingchun, Fenzhuangtaige and so on.

3. Dahong form

Similar to the Gongfen form but with bright red flowers, extremely abundant blooming and a very strong sweet fragrance. There are 15 varieties, such as Hongmei, Dahong, Xiaohong, Hongxing, Tianxinghong and so on.

4. Zhusha form

Flowers dish-shaped, single-petaled, semi-double or double, purple-red. There are already 47 varieties, such as Baixu Zhusha, Jiangnan Zhusha, Guli Hong and so on.

5. Yudie form

Flowers dish-shaped, double, white; calyx purplish red. There are 30 varieties, such as Yudie, Fendie, Zidi Bai and so on.

6. Lue form

Flowers dish-shaped, single-petaled to semi-double, white; calyx green. There are already 13 varieties, such as Lue, Danban Lue, Lihua Lue and so on.

7. Sajin form

Flowers dish-shaped, single-petaled to double; on a single tree, flowers of nearly white, pink, and white with red stripes or white with red spots bloom at the same time, which is relatively distinctive. Currently 9 varieties are known, such as Sajin Hong, Wan Tiaozhi, Erqiao, Wubao and so on.

2. Waterside plum type

The branches droop, forming a distinctive umbrella-shaped tree habit. It can be divided into the following six forms.

1. Single pink waterside form

Flowers dish-shaped, single-petaled, pink or white. Currently 3 varieties are known, such as Danfen Zhaoshui, Danban Zhaoshui and so on.

2. Double pink waterside form

Flowers dish-shaped, semi-double or double, pink. There are 2 varieties, namely Lingyan and Dongyanghong Zhaoshui.

3. Bone-red waterside form

Flowers dish-shaped, single-petaled, deep purple-red, such as Guhong Zhaoshui.

4. Remaining snow waterside form

Flowers dish-shaped, semi-double, white, such as Canxue Zhaoshui.

5. White jade waterside form

Flowers dish-shaped, single-petaled or semi-double, white; calyx green, such as Shuangbi Zhaoshui, Danbi Zhaoshui.

6. Five-treasure waterside form

On a single tree, nearly white, pink, and white with red stripes or white with red spots flowers bloom at the same time, such as Wubao Zhaoshui.

3. Dragon-wandering plum type

The branches naturally twist like a wandering dragon; flowers dish-shaped, semi-double, white, such as Longyou Mei.

4. Apricot plum type

The branches and leaves resemble those of the wild apricot (Prunus sibirica); flowers semi-double, pink, such as Xingmei, Yangmei, Songchun and other varieties. The flowering period is relatively late and cold resistance is relatively strong; it may be a natural hybrid of apricot and plum.