Chinese plum
Prunus salicina · Rosaceae
📷 Franz Xaver · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Feuilles, tiges et noyaux ou graines mâchés contiennent des glycosides cyanogènes ; le risque dépend de la partie et de la quantité ingérées. Pour les espèces fruitières, la chair mûre dénoyautée est généralement sans danger.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around chinese plum and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Prunus salicina
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- Spring (February to April)
- Mature size
- 5 to 8 m tall × 4 to 6 m wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- -15 to -20 °C depending on varieties
- Origin
- China, naturalized in Japan
- Soil type
- Well-draining, fertile, slightly acidic to neutral
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Japanese plum absolutely relies on regular winter pruning: remove crossing or poorly oriented branches while dormant. Without pruning, it develops a tangled structure that produces little and doesn't fill out properly. Water moderately but regularly during dry summers, especially when the tree is fruiting heavily.
The common mistake
Most gardeners forget about cross-pollination: a single plum tree will produce almost no fruit. You need at least two compatible varieties (look for overlapping flowering periods).
The pro's trick
Thin young fruits in June-July, keeping just one fruit every 10-15 cm. This amps up plum size and concentrates the tree's energy. Gardeners who skip this step end up harvesting tons of worthless tiny fruits.
Seasonal watch
Late winter, watch your buds carefully: if frost causes flowers to burst prematurely (early-flowering varieties), you'll get zero harvest. Plant it somewhere that warms up gradually (lower slope rather than exposed hilltop).
Care
Sunlight exposure
Your Japanese plum tree needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal fruiting. A sunny location promotes abundant flowering and better fruit quality. Choose a spot sheltered from strong winds, which can damage the flowers.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season and while fruits are forming, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. After establishment (2 to 3 years), the plum tree becomes more tolerant of summer drought. Reduce watering in winter during the dormant period.
Soil preparation and type
Plant your plum tree in well-draining soil rich in organic matter and slightly acidic. Improve poor soils by adding compost at planting time. Avoid compact or waterlogged soils that promote fungal diseases.
Pruning and training
Prune after harvest or in late winter before growth resumes. Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches to maintain an airy structure. Light pruning in the first year helps shape the branching. Drastic pruning is unnecessary unless rejuvenating an aging tree.
Fertilizing
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring when growth begins. To boost fruiting, add a potassium-rich fertilizer in early summer. Limit excess nitrogen, which encourages foliage at the expense of fruit.
Diseases and pests
The plum tree can be sensitive to shot hole disease (perforated leaf spots), brown rot (fruit mummification), and powdery mildew in humid conditions. Improve air circulation through airy pruning and remove mummified fruits. Good sanitation and watering at the base reduce infections.
Did you know?
The Japanese plum tree (Prunus salicina) actually originates from China, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years before being introduced to Japan through trade. The Japanese refined and popularized it so much that the West knows it by the name 'Japanese plum tree.' This tree symbolizes the arrival of spring in Asia and appears in many traditional paintings.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.