Flowering Plum
Prunus species, hybrids, and cultivars (ROSACEAE)
Planting and Growing Flowering Plum Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow flowering plum in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and fruit of flowering plum trees
- Growing conditions for flowering plum
- When to plant flowering plum
- How to plant flowering plum
- How to prune flowering plum
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of flowering plum
- Landscape uses of flowering plum
- Pest and disease control for flowering plum
Growing Flowering Plum Trees
Many hybrid cultivars and several species of medium-growing, short-lived, upright, branching, deciduous trees, 20–25 ft. (6–7.5 m) tall and 12–15 ft. (3.7–4.5 m) wide, with shiny, bronze becoming deep green, purple, oval, pointed, toothed leaves, 3–4 in. (75–100 mm) long, turning gold, purple, red, yellow in autumn, and with gray, tan, smooth bark.
Flowering Plum Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Many showy, pink, rose, white, mostly single, sometimes wavy-petaled flowers, 1–2 in. (25–50 mm) long, borne in profuse clusters, in early spring, may form edible, round, purple, yellow, fleshy, pitted fruit, 1/2–1 in. (12–25 mm) wide, in summer. Best with winter chill.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 5–9. Hardy.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp, well-drained, sandy loam. Fertility: Rich. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 6–8 ft. (1.8–2.4 m) apart.
Proper Care
Moderate. Keep moist until established; drought tolerant thereafter. Fertilize quarterly. Prune after bloom to shape. Prevent nuisance fruit formation in spring by applying a plant growth-regulator such as Ethephon® to flowers. Propagate by budding, cuttings, grafting, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, groups, screens in formal, woodland gardens. Good for Chinese-, Japanese-themed gardens. Shallow rooted. Aphid, spider mite and black spot, fungal disease susceptible.