What is the latest information about plum blossoms?

Plum blossom is a deciduous tree of the genus Prunus in Rosaceae. it is native to China and sometimes refers to its fruit (plum) or flower (plum blossom). It usually blossoms in winter and spring and becomes a representative of winter flowers with its hardy characteristics. Chinese culture is called Chunlan, summer lotus, autumn chrysanthemum, winter plum, and later introduced to South Korea and Japan, with important ornamental value and medicinal value. Let's take a look at the materials of plum blossoms.

Morphological characteristics

Plum blossom is a small tree, sparse shrub, 4-10 m high, bark grayish or greenish, branchlets green, leaf blade ovate or elliptic, apex tail tip, base broadly cuneate to rounded, leaf margin often sharply serrate. Flowers solitary or sometimes 2 in 1 bud, fragrant, opening before leaves, pedicel short, calyx usually reddish brown, calyx tube broadly campanulate, sepals ovate or suborbicular, petals Obovate-white to pink. The fruit is nearly spherical, sour in taste, the pulp and nucleus are pasted, the core is oval, the florescence is in winter and spring, and the fruiting period is from May to June (extended to July to August in North China).

Growth habit

Plum blossom like warm climate, cold tolerance is not strong, in addition to apricot plum varieties can withstand-25 ℃ low temperature, generally tolerant to-10 ℃ low temperature, more resistant to drought, not resistant to waterlogging, long life, up to a thousand years. Flowering is particularly sensitive to climate change, preferring high air humidity, but avoiding torrential rain. It is resistant to high temperature and can grow under the condition of 40 ℃, and the growth and development is the best in the area with annual average temperature of 16-23 ℃. It is very sensitive to temperature. It blossoms when the average temperature reaches-5: 7 ℃ in early spring. If it is at a low temperature, the flowering period is delayed. If it is at a low temperature, the flowering period can be prolonged. Growth period should be placed in a sunny, well-ventilated place, if in a shady environment, lack of light, then the growth is thin, flowering is rare. Do not enter the house too early in winter, it is appropriate to enter the house in late November, so that the differentiation of flower buds go through the vernalization stage. It should be placed in the sunny place indoors in winter and the temperature should be kept at about 5 ℃.

Distribution of producing area

Plum blossom is a specialty of China. China is not only the world wild distribution center of plum blossom, but also the world cultivation center of plum blossom. it is native to southwest China, Sichuan, Hubei, Guangxi and other provinces. It blossoms in early spring and is cultivated all over the country. however, it is most common in the provinces south of the Yangtze River basin, and there are a few varieties in northern Jiangsu and southern Henan. Some varieties have been successfully introduced in North China, as well as in Japan and Korea.

Planting value

Plum blossom has been cultivated in China for more than 3000 years. There are many varieties of plum blossom, whether for ornamental or fruit trees. Many types of plum blossom are not only cultivated in the open field for ornamental use, but also can be planted in potted flowers and made into plum stumps. Flowers, leaves, roots and kernels can be used as medicine, and the fruit can be eaten, salted or smoked into Prunus mume herb, which has the effects of relieving cough, relieving diarrhea, promoting fluid production and thirst. Because plum trees are resistant to root nematodes, they can be used as rootstocks for drupe fruit trees.

Plant culture

Plum blossoms are listed as "four gentlemen" together with orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums, and they are also called "old cold three friends" together with pine trees and bamboos, which still bloom unyielding in the cold winter. the precious qualities that symbolize our nation's indomitable, tenacious struggle and fearless hardship are well reflected in it. In ancient times, there were poets chanting plum blossoms in the corner of the wall, braving the cold alone and proudly blooming. From a distance, we already know that it is not snow, because there are waves of fragrance coming. " , is also considered to be the most virtuous flower species, in addition, although the plum blossom growth environment is bad, but still happy blooming, expressing an optimistic character to meet the hope.