Japanese flowering apricot
(Prunus Mume)
Country of Origin : China and Japan
Bonsai Styles : semi-cascade, cascade, windswept, informal upright,
Zone : 5 – 9
A wide range of ornamental species and stoned fruit trees and shrubs are included in the Prunus family, including almonds, evergreen laurels, cherries, peaches and plums.
Japanese flowering apricot or Japanese apricot is also known as Chinese plum or Japanese plum.
In Japanese art and decoration, Japanese flowering apricots are probably the most familiar element.
In late winter, the delicate, fragrant flowers, attached to dark and gnarled bare branches, symbolize the strength and beauty of nature.
When in bloom, a bonsai displayed indoors fills the room with its fragrance. However, these bonsai trees are not suitable for indoor bonsai trees.
Although the petals are fragile, they can withstand wind, rain, and even snow.
There are heavy, hollow trunks with gnarled bark on these plants. A few areas are carved with dead wood imitating lightning strikes.
Prunus spinosa (aka blackthorn or sloe), is a good alternative to Prunus mume bonsai.
Prunus Mume is characterized by a few sharply bent branches that taper dramatically into a small number of flower-bearing branches.
For creating Japanese apricot bonsai, the basic idea is to create the most rigid possible branch framework for the delicate flowers.
Best location to keep Prunus Mume Bonsai
Keep the tree in full sun. Protect from the hot sun when grown in a container.
As stated earlier, the Prunus mume bonsai tree is not suitable for indoors. However, you can display it indoors for some time.
This species can tolerate freezing temperatures for a brief period of time. But prolonged exposure will damage the flowers.
Protect the tree from freezing winds as well or else twigs will die back.
Refer sunlight requirements for indoor plants for more indoor gardening ideas. Also, refer to do bonsai trees need sunlight for more indoor and outdoor bonsai location ideas.
Propagation of Prunus Mume
Japanese flowering apricot can be propagated by using hardwood cuttings in late winter.
Grafting can be done in spring and winter. And layering can be performed in summer.
Watering Prunus Mume Bonsai
Throughout the growing season, water the bonsai daily.
You should water sparingly in winter, but keep the soil continuously moist.
There is an increase in the demand for water as the buds of the flowers swell. It is important to note that if the soil is allowed to dry at this stage, the buds will drop.
When watering, avoid splashing water on the petals, which are easily damaged.
Read watering bonsai tree for more details about immersion technique.
Wiring Prunus Mume Bonsai
The branches of apricot bonsai harden quickly and are fragile.
Spring to summer is the best time to wire, but be careful not to damage the bark or knock off the flower buds that are developing.
Inspect the bonsai periodically to check if the bark is biting on to the wire. In such a case, remove the wire.
It is possible to leave the wires on the branches for one year.
Pruning Prunus Mume Bonsai
When to prune Prunus Mume bonsai?
How to prune Prunus Mume bonsai?
To encourage new growth, prune the bonsai immediately after flowering. This is because Japanese apricots bloom exclusively on new growth from the previous year. The new shoots produced this year will provide you with plenty of flowers the following year.
Shorten last year’s growth to one or 2 buds if it spoils the branch line, or even remove it completely.
It is also a good time to remove old, overgrown spurs and too long branches.
After this allow unrestricted growth all throughout the summer.
The summer is the time when the flowering shoots for the following year are produced, so don’t prune or pinch out during this time.
The next (spring) year’s flowers buds will be produced on the axils of the buds near the base of most shoots.
As summer comes to an end, these buds will become slightly more rounder than the growth buds (which are further up along the branches).
Pinching Prunus Mume Bonsai
Pinch out or lightly prune the growing tips of long shoots in early fall. Prune back to 3-5 leaf buds.
Repotting Prunus Mume Bonsai
When to repot Prunus Mume bonsai?
You can repot a young Prunus Mume bonsai tree every other year in late winter (as soon as the flowering has stopped).
However, older and mature bonsai trees can be repotted every 3-4 years.
Use a deep pot for repotting apricot bonsai.
You can use a basic free-draining bonsai soil mix as a potting soil.
Or, make a bonsai soil mix with 40% grit and 60% organic matter.
You can also make a mix with loam and sharp sand in the ratio of 2:1. Add a little bit of lime and bonemeal to this mix.
Must Read: Bonsai Soil Recipes
Must read : Choosing the right bonsai container
Feeding Prunus Mume Bonsai
During the summer, heavy feeding results in more flowers for the winter. Throughout the summer, feed at least every two weeks.
You can also apply a dose with high potassium and phosphate in late summer.
In the spring, apply a general fertilizer.
A high calcium-containing fertilizer is beneficial to plants in this genus since they bear stoned fruit.
Read more about applying feed to flowering bonsai in bonsai fertilizer and its application.
Diseases and pest of Prunus Mume Bonsai
As with many other members of the Rosaceae family of plants, these plants are susceptible to rust as well. Symptoms of fungus should be treated with an appropriate fungicide.
Infestation with aphids is inevitable. As a precaution, spray every two weeks.
Also, scale insects can attack the tree. In both cases, you can use a systemic insecticide if manual removal is not possible.
Picking caterpillars off by hand is the best way to get rid of them.
Bonsai trees kept in poor conditions can also have mildew. Keep the bonsai container in a clean and ventilated location.
In case the branches are affected by cankers, prune the affected branches back to healthy part.
Prunus Mume bonsai care
Despite being fully hardy, the flowers are susceptible to sharp frosts.
In nature, the wild Japanese apricot tree’s roots are naturally insulated by soil. However, when grown in pots, provide protection from severe freezing. You can place the tree in a shed at this time.
It is important to cut back the shoots of the apricot bonsai in regular basis. If not done, these trees will be vulnerable to fungal attacks.
Also, application of nitrogen rich fertilizer will increase the chances of rust and aphids infestation. You can apply some preventive spray in fall to avoid this.
What to look for when buying Prunus Mume Bonsai
It is rare to find large specimens of Japanese flowering apricot bonsai. They are mostly yamadori or collected from the wild, very old and full of character. This makes them fairly expensive.
Hence, limiting your expectations (trying to find a work of art) is a good approach while trying to buy a bonsai specimen.
Instead, you should look for a bonsai specimen which can be trained and grown into a good bonsai.
Try and find a tree which has got well structured and spaced branches, a tapered trunk and a good formation of roots.
Also, if you can, make a purchase at the time when the tree is flowering. By doing this you will be able to confirm the color of the flowers.
It is likely that your bonsai specimen will have scar marks. Scars will need to be carved out to form natural-looking hollows.
