About Prunus mume (Siebold) Siebold & Zucc.
Prunus mume (Siebold) Siebold & Zucc. is a deciduous tree that begins flowering in mid-winter, which typically falls between January and late February in East Asia. This tree can reach a height of 4 to 10 meters (13 to 33 feet). Its flowers measure 2 to 2.5 centimeters (0.79 to 0.98 inches) in diameter, carry a strong fragrant scent, and come in varying shades of white, pink, and red. Leaves emerge shortly after the tree’s petals fall; they are oval-shaped with a pointed tip, 4 to 8 centimeters long, and 2.5 to 5 centimeters wide. In East Asia, the fruit of Prunus mume ripens in early summer, around June and July, which coincides with the region’s annual rainy season called meiyu (梅雨, "plum rain"). The fruit is a drupe, 2 to 3 centimeters (0.79 to 1.18 inches) in diameter, with a distinct groove that runs from the stalk to the tip of the fruit. As the fruit ripens, its skin turns yellow (sometimes with a red blush) and its flesh becomes yellow. This tree is cultivated for both its fruit and its flowers. Prunus mume fruit is common across Asia and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
