Flowering Plum Tree
Things to Know About the Flowering Plum Tree
The flowering plum tree is definitely one of the most beautiful flowering trees in the world. They are ornamental trees grown worldwide that are used almost wholly for their gorgeous blooms when it comes to gardens, although the tasty fruit that they also produce are used as well. The leaves are lovely in both Fall and Spring and the tree continues to bloom in clusters that last for 5 days.
In the Spring, the blooms are mainly pink and emit a sweet aroma. During the summertime, the leaves turn to a dark burgundy color and develop small delicious plums on them as well. The blossoms cluster together in groups of 3 or 4 and even after the flowers have dropped off the branches the scent of them lingers. The leaves that appear afterwards are nearly as revered as the blossoms themselves due to their deep colors.
At its full height, the flowering plum tree will grow to be about 25 feet. The top crown reaches around 15 feet. The tree itself prefers a location that is sunny, or only partially shaded, although it is not very particular when it comes to the type of soil that it is planted in.
In order to help it keep its shape, you might need to prune the tree in the beginning. Later on, it will only need pruning if the branches get crowded or crossed. For the first 2 years, it needs to be watered on a weekly basis. At this time, it needs 15 to 20 gallons. After that, it only needs to be watered 2 times per month for the third year. From that point on, the watering will depend on the weather.
Even though the plums that can be found on the tree are small, they can still be eaten as a hand-held fruit. The juice can also be used in jams, as well, since it is very sweet tasting. If you ferment the juice, it can be turned into wine as well. When the plum is fried then it becomes a prune.
Black knot can develop on the tree if it does not grow properly. This will be visible by large black knots which can show up on the branches. The knots grow quickly and if the branches become infected then they should be pruned a couple of inches below the knot itself. Since the spores can continue to thrive, the infected wood needs to be removed.
Shot hole fungus which causes holes in the leaves can also develop. This can cause the tree to eventually lose all of its leaves. To help protect against it, a fungicide can be sprayed on the tree to help control the growth of the fungus.
If brown rot appears on the fruit itself, it can generally just be cut away since it is not toxic. If it is left unattended though, then the rot can spread and the fruit can’t be eaten at all. The rot usually develops when the fruit is ripe and hasn’t been harvested right away.
Birds also like to eat the fruit of the flowering plum tree, since it is so sweet. Having one in your garden is bound to attract a variety of birds, which may or may not be something that you want.
The tree is grown all over the world due to the fact that it is not picky regarding its soil. In China, the dried plum is flavored and sold for many purposes. Plums are also pickled in Asia while in Japan they are used in rice balls. In Eastern Europe, distilled plum wine is made and sold as plum brandy.