Ume - plum blossom

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Having seen the Ume in Osaka earlier this year I have decided to plant a couple of trees in my garden

My first question is - does anyone know what varieties of plum (latin names if applicable) are grown there ?

I was particularly taken by the deep purple blossom but they were all beautiful.

My second question - directed to the expats out there - is if any of you know where the trees can be bought & if they can be imported into the UK

TIA

regards

Phil..

[Jools]

I can't answer your question about Ume and their varities, but I must say they are indeed breathtaking. A regret of mine was missing out on Sakura when I was over in Japan in mid-May... perhaps next time...

I hope someone can answer this question, as I'm rather intrigued as well.

[crabbi]

Having seen the Ume in Osaka earlier this year I have decided to plant a couple of trees in my garden

My first question is - does anyone know what varieties of plum (latin names if applicable) are grown there ?

I was particularly taken by the deep purple blossom but they were all beautiful.

My second question - directed to the expats out there - is if any of you know where the trees can be bought & if they can be imported into the UK

TIA

regards

Phil..
Hi Phil... Crabbi-Yama here (LOL!!!)

The genus is Prunus (same as the cherry), and there are a couple of candidate varieties - Prunus mume and Prunus x blireiana

Just did a quick search on Google and came up with these links:

Overview and some useful links: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2013.html (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2013.html)

Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ume (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ume)
Nice photos of Ume in Kyoto: http://datelineseoul.blogspot.com/2006/03/plum-trees-blossom-in-kyoto.html (http://datelineseoul.blogspot.com/2006/03/plum-trees-blossom-in-kyoto.html)
Decorative plum trees in the UK:http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=4658&CategoryID (http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=4658&CategoryID)=

Hope this helps a bit...

Great to train with you last night... see you soon

[crabbi]

Coincidentally, just bumped into an acquaintance who is a gardener... He didn't know specifically which variety you should be looking for, but confirmed the genus is Prunus.

He suggested going to the Royal Horticultural Society advisory site at: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/advisory_service.asp

If you join the RHS (£42) they give you 1 to 1 coaching on horticultural matters.

Also, Compton Acres, the well-known ornamental gardens in Poole, have a Japanese garden ( http://www.comptonacres.co.uk/gardens/japanese.asp ) and may well have specialist knowledge, or even a cutting that might help you on your way...

Cheers

[don don]

The one you're after might just be "prunus Japonica," or "Korean Cherry." There are purple, pink, white and red varieties. It flowers in May, which is when you were here if memory serves.
I'll try to find out some more.
Look forward to crossing shinai with you again, Phil. Enjoy the garden...
Regards.

[ben]

Plum blossom in Japanese is baika ??, not ume, which is the tree. I love how they are the first of the blossoms to come out, seemingly in the middle of winter when everything else is dead.

b

[Kuri]

I spent a few years in Osaka, and the plum blossoms in Osakajo koen are magnificent. A large area below the castle filled with trees with blossoms ranging from white right through to crimson. Brilliant. Have a couple of images, but they don't do them justice.

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7494/osakacastle022vf9.jpg
http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/9476/osakacastle024vv8.jpg
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1158/osakacastle023kf0.jpg