How to identify Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)

How to identify Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)

Japanese apricot is characterized by its deciduous nature with a bushy silhouette and a rounded to oval crown, reaching a height and spread of 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters). Its young bark is light gray and smooth, maturing to an exfoliating, deeply furrowed texture. The stems exhibit a polished, shiny green. Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate, 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) long, with sharp serrations and a rich green hue above, beneath which they are pubescent along the veins. The striking 5-petaled, pale pink flowers are about 1 to 1.25 inches (2.5 to 3.2 centimeters) in diameter, blossoming on bare branches in late winter. The plant produces round, fuzzy, edible drupes, yellowish-green to yellow-orange in color, 1 to 1.25 inches (2.5 to 3.2 centimeters) in diameter, containing a stony seed, and are ready for harvest in summer.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Japanese apricot

Deciduous plant with rounded crown, growing 15-20 feet (4.5-6 meters) tall and wide.

Shiny green stems and rich green ovate leaves with serrations and pubescence.

5-petaled pale pink flowers, 1-1.25 inches (2.5-3.2 cm) in diameter, blooming in late winter.

Round fuzzy drupes, yellowish-green to yellow-orange, 1-1.25 inches (2.5-3.2 cm) in diameter.

Young bark light gray and smooth, mature bark exfoliating to deeply furrowed texture.

Detailed Traits of Japanese apricot

Leaf Features

The leaves of japanese apricot are alternate, simple, and ovate with a pointed tip (acuminate) and wedge-shaped base (cuneate). Measuring 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) long, they exhibit a rich green color on the upper surface, while the underside features pubescence on the veins. The leaves have sharply serrated edges and glandular petioles. In autumn, the foliage transitions to a yellow color, adding seasonal interest.

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Flower Features

The flowers of japanese apricot are 5-petaled and measure 1 to 1.25 inches (2.5 to 3.2 cm) in diameter. They appear singularly or in pairs and are pale pink with a strong clove fragrance, blooming in late winter from January to February. Depending on the cultivar, the flower colors range from white, pink, deep rose, to red, and can be single, semi-double, or double in form, making them quite distinctive and identifiable.

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Stem Features

The stem of japanese apricot is polished and shiny green, exhibiting a glabrous (smooth and hairless) surface. Typically slender and erect, the stem branches out sparsely, maintaining a sleek appearance. Measuring up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, it provides a sturdy yet flexible structure. The stem's notable sheen and smooth texture make it a distinctive feature for identification.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of japanese apricot is a fuzzy, round drupe measuring approximately 1 to 1.25 inches (2.5 to 3.2 cm) in diameter. These fruits exhibit a color gradient from yellowish-green to yellow-orange when mature. Each contains a singular, hard, stony seed within its fleshy exterior. Typically harvested in the summertime, the fruit is known for its sour to bitter taste, making it distinct in flavor among edible fruits.

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Japanese apricot and Their Similar Plants

Sweet cherry vs. Japanese apricot: What's The Difference?

Sweet cherry is a well-known species to fruit lovers worldwide. This stone fruit varies in flavor from sweet to tart, depending on the specific cultivar. Sweet cherry is also used for lumber and is a preferred wood type for furniture.

Cherry plum vs. Japanese apricot: What's The Difference?

Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) is a deciduous small tree or shrub native to Southern Europe and Western Asia. It is one of the most common wild fruits of its native region, producing numerous rounded, yellow, red, or burgundy-colored sweet juicy fruit in summer and autumn. Cherry plum is also used as an ornamental tree and as rootstock for other Prunus species.

Black cherry vs. Japanese apricot: What's The Difference?

Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is a medium-sized, deciduous forest tree native to the Americas, but also naturalized in parts of Europe. It features inflorescence with small white blooms that become clusters of dark cherries, edible when pitted. Mature trees have gray-to-black, distinctly crackled bark. The glossy leaves are poisonous to livestock. It is a highly reproductive pioneer species with invasive potential.

European plum vs. Japanese apricot: What's The Difference?

Prunus domestica is a small deciduous tree and the most common orchard plum in Europe and other regions of the world. It is a hybrid species that had most likely evolved from the wild Cherry plum, Prunus cerasifera. The fruit is elongated, fleshy, and usually sweet. Dried fruits of european plum are called prunes.

Peach vs. Japanese apricot: What's The Difference?

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Cherry laurel vs. Japanese apricot: What's The Difference?

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Japanese cherry vs. Japanese apricot: What's The Difference?

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Common chokecherry vs. Japanese apricot: What's The Difference?

Prunus virginiana, commonly known as common chokecherry, is a deciduous small tree or suckering shrub often confused with chokeberry, due to similarities in the looks of their fruits. The fruits of both species are known for their rich antioxidant content. Common chokecherry plays an important ecological role as a larval host for numerous moth species.

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Key Facts About Japanese apricot

Attributes of Japanese apricot

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree, Shrub

Plant Height

4 m to 10 m

Spread

6 m

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

2 cm to 2.5 cm

Flower Color

White

Pink

Red

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Scientific Classification of Japanese apricot

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Roses, elms, figs, and allies

Family

Rose

Genus

Prunus

Species

Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)

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Distribution Map of Japanese apricot

Japanese apricot is a plant primarily indigenous to East and Southeast Asia. While it naturally occurs in the warm temperate regions of these continents, it has been introduced and cultivated in additional areas within Asia, extending its reach. Its cultivation status indicates an intentional propagation beyond its native range for ornamental and other non-specified purposes.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

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