| Prunus mume | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Prunus |
| Subgenus: | Prunussubg. Prunus |
| Section: | Prunussect. Armeniaca |
| Species: | P. mume |
| Binomial name | |
| Prunus mume | |
| Synonyms | |
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Prunus mume, also known asChinese plum,[1][2] is a tree species in the familyRosaceae.[3] It is also referenced by its flowers asplum blossom.[4] Although referred to as aplum in English, it is classified in theArmeniaca section of thegenusPrunus, making it anapricot.Mei flowers, ormeihua (梅花), which bloom in the late winter and early spring, notably during thespring festival (春節), symbolize endurance, as they are the first to bloom despite the cold; the flower is one of theThree Friends of Winter.
The plant is intimately associated with art, literature, and everyday life in China,[5] from where it was then introduced to Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. InEast Asian cuisine (Chinese,Japanese,Korean, andVietnamese cuisine), the fruit, known asmeizi (梅子) in Chinese, is used in juices and sauces; as a flavoring for alcohol; and may bepickled ordried. It is also used intraditional Chinese medicine.Meihua are also appreciated for their characteristic fragrance, which is unique among apricots.[6]
Prunus mume should not be confused with the plumPrunus salicina, a related species also grown in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, nor with the common apricotPrunus armeniaca, which is closely related under the same section.
Prunus mume originated in the region around theYangtze River in southern China and was cultivated domestically for both its ornamental beauty and its fruit.[7][8][9] It was later introduced toJapan,[10]Korea, andVietnam. It can be found in sparse forests, stream sides, forested slopes along trails, and mountains, sometimes at altitudes up to 1,700–3,100 m (5,600–10,200 ft), and regions of cultivation.[11]
Prunus mume is adeciduous tree that starts to flower in mid-winter, typically around January until late February inEast Asia. It can grow to 4–10 m (13–33 ft) tall.[11] The flowers are 2–2.5 cm (0.79–0.98 in) in diameter and have a strong fragrant scent.[11] They have colors in varying shades of white, pink, and red.[12] The leaves appear shortly after the petals fall, are oval-shaped with a pointed tip, and are 4–8 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide.[11] The fruit ripens in early summer, around June and July in East Asia, and coincides with theEast Asian rainy season, themeiyu (梅雨, "plum rain").[13] Thedrupe is 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) in diameter with a groove running from the stalk to the tip.[11] The skin turns yellow, sometimes with a red blush, as it ripens, and the flesh becomes yellow. The tree iscultivated for itsfruit andflowers.[14][15]
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Native to southern China, where it is known asmei (梅).[11][16] The scientific name combines the Latinprūnus ("(European) plum tree") and the obsolete Japanese pronunciation of 梅 (mume), which is ultimately likely derived fromMiddle Chinese. The plant is known by a number of different names inEnglish, includingflowering plum orplum blossoms. Another misnomer,Japanese apricot, likely derives from the plant's introduction into Western knowledge byPhilipp Franz von Siebold, who encountered it while living in Japan.
The flower is known as themeihua (梅花) in Chinese, which came to be translated as "plum blossom"[17] or sometimes as "flowering plum".[18] The term "winter plum" may be used too, specifically with regard to the depiction of the flower with its early blooming inChinese painting.[citation needed] The character 梅 is a phono-semantic compound created by combining the semantic component木 ("tree") with the phonetic component每 (literally meaning "every," pronounced/*mɯːʔ/ inOld Chinese, which was similar to/*mɯː/ for "plum").
InChinese, it is calledmei (梅) and the fruit is calledmeizi (梅子). TheJapanese name isume (うめ), while theKorean name ismaesil (Korean: 매실;Hanja: 梅實). The Japanese and Korean terms derive fromMiddle Chinese, in which the pronunciation is thought to have beenmuəi.[19] TheVietnamese name ismai ormơ (althoughmai vàng refers to a different plant,Ochna integerrima, in southern Vietnam).[citation needed]
Ornamental tree varieties and cultivars ofP. mume have been cultivated for planting in variousgardens throughout East Asia, and for cut blossoming branches used in flower arrangements.[citation needed]
In China, there are over 300 recordedcultivars ofPrunus mume.[20] These are classified by theirphylogenetics (P. mume and hybrids) into branches, characteristics of their branches in groups, and characteristics of their flowers in forms:[20]
It is disputed whetherPrunus zhengheensis (Chinese:政和杏) is a separate species[21] or conspecific withPrunus mume.[22] It is found in the Fujian province of China. It is only known from one county,Zhenghe. It is a tree that prefers to grow at 700–1,000 m (2,300–3,300 ft) above sea level. The yellow fruit is delectable and aside from its height, it is indistinguishable fromP. mume.
In Japan,ornamentalPrunus mumecultivars are classified intoyabai (wild),hibai (red), andbungo (Bungo Province) types. Thebungo trees are also grown for fruit and are hybrids betweenPrunus mume and apricot. Thehibai trees have redheartwood and most of them have red flowers. Theyabai trees are also used asgrafting stock. Among yabai trees, Nankoume is a very popular variety in Japan,[23] and whose fruits are mainly used for makingumeboshi.
In China,suanmeitang (酸梅湯; "sour plum juice") is made fromsmoked plums, calledwumei (烏梅).[24] The plum juice is extracted by boiling smoked plums in water and sweetened with sugar to makesuanmeitang.[24] It ranges from light pinkish-orange to purplish black in colour and often has a smoky and slightly salty taste. It is traditionally flavoured withsweet osmanthus flowers, and is enjoyed chilled, usually in summer.[citation needed]
In Korea, both the flowers and the fruits are used to make tea.Maehwa-cha (매화차, 梅花茶; "plum blossom tea") is made by infusing the flowers in hot water.Maesil-cha (매실차, 梅實茶; "plum tea") is made by mixing water withmaesil-cheong (plum syrup) and is served either hot or cold.[citation needed]
In Japan, a similar drink is made from green plums and tastes sweet and tangy, is considered a cold, refreshing drink, and is often enjoyed in the summer.[citation needed]
A thick, sweet Chinese sauce calledmeijiang (梅醬) ormeizijiang (梅子醬), usually translated as "plum sauce", is also made from the plums,[17] along with other ingredients such as sugar, vinegar, salt, ginger, chili, and garlic. Similar toduck sauce, it is used as acondiment for various Chinese dishes, including poultry dishes andegg rolls.[citation needed]
In Korea,maesil-cheong (매실청, 梅實淸, "plum syrup"), a syrup made bysugaring ripe plums, is used as acondiment andsugar substitute. It can be made by simply mixing plums andsugar together, and then leaving them for about 100 days.[25] To make syrup, the ratio of sugar to plum should be at least 1:1 to preventfermentation, by which the liquid may turn intoplum wine.[26] The plums can be removed after 100 days, and the syrup can be consumed right away, or mature for a year or more.[25]
In Korea,hwajeon (화전, 花煎; "flower pancake") can be made with plum blossoms. Calledmaehwa-jeon (매화전, 梅花煎; "plum blossom pancake"), the pancake dish is usually sweet, with honey as an ingredient.[citation needed]
Plum liquor, also known asplum wine, is popular in both Japan and Korea, and is also produced in China.Umeshu (梅酒; "plum wine") is a Japanese alcoholic drink made by steeping green plums inshōchū (clear liquor). It is sweet and smooth. A similar liquor in Korea, calledmaesil-ju (매실주, 梅實酒; "plum wine"), is marketed under various brand names, including Mae hwa soo, Matchsoon, and Seoljungmae. Both the Japanese and Korean varieties of plum liquor are available with whole plum fruits contained in the bottle. In China, plum wine is calledméijiǔ (梅酒).[citation needed]
InTaiwan, a popular 1950s innovation over the Japanese-style plum wine is thewumeijiu (烏梅酒; "smoked plum liquor"), which is made by mixing two types of plum liquor,meijiu (梅酒) made ofP. mume andlijiu (李酒), made ofP. salicina, andoolong tea liquor.[27]
In Vietnam, ripe plums are macerated in sticky rice liquor. The resulting liquor is calledrượu mơ.
In Chinese cuisine, plums pickled with vinegar and salt are calledsuanmeizi (酸梅子; "sour plum fruits"), and have an intensely sour and salty flavour. They are generally made from unripe plum fruits.Huamei (話梅) are Chinese preserved plums and refer to Chinese plums pickled in sugar, salt, and herbs. There are two general varieties: a dried variety, and a wet (pickled) variety.[citation needed]
Umeboshi (梅干) are pickled and dried plums. They are a Japanese specialty. Pickled with coarse salt, they are quite salty and sour, and therefore eaten sparingly. They are often red in colour when purpleshiso leaves are used. Plums used for makingumeboshi are harvested in late May or early June, while they are ripe enough in yellow, and layered with much salt.[28] They are weighed down with a heavy stone (or some more modern implement) until late August. They are then dried in the sun on bamboo mats for several days (they are returned to the salt at night). Theflavonoid pigment in shiso leaves gives them their distinctive colour and a richer flavour.Umeboshi are generally eaten with rice as part of abento (boxed lunch), although they may also be used inmakizushi (rolled sushi).Umeboshi are also used as a popular filling forrice balls (onigiri) wrapped innori. Makizushi made with plums may be made with eitherumeboshi orbainiku (umeboshi paste), often in conjunction with green shiso leaves. A byproduct ofumeboshi production isumeboshi vinegar, a salty, sour condiment.[citation needed]
In Korea, there is 'maesil-jangajji' which is similar to 'umeboshi'. It is a common side dish in Korea.[citation needed]
A very similar variety of pickled plum,xí muội orô mai is used inVietnamese cuisine. The best fruit for this are from the forest around theHương Pagoda inHà Tây Province.
Prunus mume is a common fruit in Asia and is used intraditional Chinese medicine.[29]
Plum blossoms have been well-loved and celebrated across the East Asian cultural sphere, beginning in China and later introduced to Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.
The plum blossom, which is known as themeihua (梅花), is one of the most beloved flowers in China and has been frequently depicted in Chinese art and poetry for centuries.[18] The plum blossom is seen as a symbol of winter and a harbinger of spring.[18] The blossoms are so beloved because they are viewed as blooming most vibrantly amidst the winter snow, exuding an ethereal elegance,[18][30] while their fragrance is noticed to still subtly pervade the air at even the coldest times of the year.[30][31] Therefore, the plum blossom came to symbolize perseverance and hope, as well as beauty, purity, and the transitoriness of life.[18] InConfucianism, the plum blossom stands for the principles and values of virtue.[32] More recently, it has also been used as a metaphor to symbolize revolutionary struggle since the turn of the 20th century.[33]
Because it blossoms in the cold winter, the plum blossom is regarded as one of the "Three Friends of Winter", along with pine, and bamboo.[17][34] The plum blossom is also regarded as one of the "Four Gentlemen" of flowers in Chinese art, together with the orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo.[34] It is one of the "Flowers of the Four Seasons", which consist of the orchid (spring), the lotus (summer), the chrysanthemum (autumn) and the plum blossom (winter).[34] These groupings are seen repeatedly in the Chinese aesthetic of art, painting, literature, and garden design.[35]
An example of the plum blossom's literary significance is found in the life and work of poetLin Bu (林逋) of theSong dynasty (960–1279). For much of his later life, Lin Bu lived in quiet reclusion on a cottage byWest Lake inHangzhou, China.[36] According to stories, he loved plum blossoms and cranes so much that he considered the plum blossom of Solitary Hill at West Lake as his wife and the cranes of the lake as his children, thus he could live peacefully in solitude.[37][38] One of his most famous poems is "Little Plum Blossom of Hill Garden" (山園小梅). The Chinese text, as well as a translation, follows:[39]
眾芳搖落獨暄妍，
占斷風情向小園。
疏影橫斜水清淺，
暗香浮動月黃昏。
霜禽欲下先偷眼，
粉蝶如知合斷魂。
幸有微吟可相狎，
不須檀板共金樽。
When everything has faded they alone shine forth,
encroaching on the charms of smaller gardens.
Their scattered shadows fall lightly on clear water,
their subtle scent pervades the moonlit dusk.
Snowbirds look again before they land,
butterflies would faint if they but knew.
Thankfully, I can flirt in whispered verse,
I don't need a sounding board or winecup.
As with the literary culture amongst the educated of the time, Lin Bu's poems were discussed in several Song dynasty era commentaries on poetry. Wang Junqing remarked after quoting the third and fourth line: "This is from Lin Hejing's [Lin Bu's] plum blossom poem. Yet these lines might just as well be applied to the flowering apricot, peach, or pear."—a comparison of the flowers with the plum blossom to which the renowned Song dynasty poetSu Dongpo (蘇東坡) replied, "Well, yes, they might. But I'm afraid the flowers of those other trees wouldn't presume to accept such praise."[31] Plum blossoms inspired many people of the era.[40]
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Legend has it that once on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, while Princess Shouyang (壽陽公主), daughter ofEmperor Wu of Liu Song (劉宋武帝), was resting under the eaves of Hanzhang Palace near the plum trees after wandering in the gardens, a plum blossom drifted down onto her fair face, leaving a floral imprint on her forehead that enhanced her beauty further.[41][42][43] The court ladies were said to be so impressed that they started decorating their own foreheads with a small delicate plum blossom design.[41][42][44] This is also the mythical origin of the floral fashion,meihua chuang[42] (梅花妝; literally "plum blossom makeup"), that originated in theSouthern Dynasties (420–589) and became popular amongst ladies in theTang (618–907) andSong (960–1279) dynasties.[44][45] The markings of plum blossom designs on the foreheads of court ladies were usually made with paintlike materials such assorghum powder,gold powder,paper,jade, and other tint substances. Princess Shouyang is celebrated as the goddess of the plum blossom in Chinese culture.[42][43]
During theMing dynasty (1368–1644), the garden designerJi Cheng wrote his definitive garden architecture monographYuanye and in it, he described the plum tree as the "beautiful woman of the forest and moon".[40] The appreciation of nature at night plays an important role inChinese gardens. For this reason, there are classical pavilions for the tradition of viewing plum blossoms by the moonlight.[46] The flowers are viewed and enjoyed by many as annual plum blossom festivals take place in the blooming seasons of themeihua. The festivals take place throughout China (for example,West Lake inHangzhou and scenic spots nearZijin Mountain inNanjing, amongst other places).[47][48] Plum blossoms are often used as decoration during theSpring Festival (Chinese New Year) and remain popular in the miniature gardening plants of the art ofpenjing.[18] Branches of plum blossoms are often arranged inporcelain or ceramic vases, such as themeiping (literally "plum vase").[49][50] These vases can hold single branches of plum blossoms and have been traditionally used to display the blossoms in a home since the earlySong dynasty (960–1279).[51][52][53]
TheMoy Yat lineage ofWing Chunkung fu uses a red plum flower blossom as its symbol. The plum blossoms are featured on one of the four flowers that appear onmahjong tile sets, wheremei (梅) is usually simply translated as "plum" in English.[54]
It has been suggested that the Japanese practice ofhanami may have originated from theChinese custom of enjoying poetry and wine underneath plum blossom trees while viewing their flowers, that was replicated by Japanese elites. This is supported by the fact thathanami started in urban areas rather than rural areas, that Japanese people initially admired plum blossoms like the Chinese rather than cherry blossoms, and that classic Japanese poetry does not associatecherry blossoms with merriness.[55]
TheNational Flower of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was officially designated as the plum blossom (Prunus Mei;Chinese:梅花) by theExecutive Yuan of theRepublic of China on July 21, 1964.[56] The plum blossom is the symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity during the harsh winter.[57][58] The triple grouping of stamens (three stamens per petal) on the national emblem representsSun Yat-sen'sThree Principles of the People, while the five petals symbolize the five branches of the government.[56][58] It also serves as the logo ofChina Airlines, the national carrier ofTaiwan (theRepublic of China).[59] The flower is featured on someNew Taiwan dollar coins.[60]
In Korea, the plum blossom is a symbol for spring.[61] It is a popular flower motif, amongst other flowers, forKorean embroidery.[62] Maebyong are plum vases derived from the Chinese meiping and are traditionally used to hold branches of plum blossoms in Korea.[63][64] Koreanceramist MasterKim Se-yong incorporates the blossom into many of hisopenworkceladon vases.
Also, duringKorean Empire period, the plum blossom becamethe imperial seal and royal official flower. Since ancient times, plum blossom has been filled with meaning and mystery. Plum blossoms bloom at the end of the winter, and because of this, they are called the herald of spring. They also symbolize perseverance because of how they can possibly bloom during the cold winter. Since they are considered the first flower of the year, they also represent purity and renewal. Plum flowers have five petals which are believed to carry 5 different blessings such as: wealth, health, virtue, peaceful and natural death.[65]
Plum blossoms are often mentioned inJapanese poetry as a symbol of spring, as well as elegance and purity. When used inhaiku orrenga, they are akigo or season word for early spring. The blossoms are associated with theJapanese bush warbler and are depicted together on one of the twelvesuits ofhanafuda (Japanese playing cards).[66] Plum blossoms were favored during theNara period (710–794) until the emergence of theHeian period (794–1185), in which the cherry blossom was preferred.[67]
Japanese tradition holds that theume functions as a protective charm against evil, so theume is traditionally planted in the northeast of the garden, the direction from which evil is believed to come. The eating of the pickled fruit for breakfast is also supposed to stave off misfortune.[68]
The tradition ofhanami was originally performed with plum blossoms rather thancherry blossoms as is common today. The specific custom of viewing plum blossoms in Japan is now calledumemi (梅見, plum-viewing).[69][70]
InVietnam, due to the beauty of the tree and its flowers, the wordmai is used to name girls. The largest hospital in Hanoi is namedBạch Mai (white plum blossom),[71] another hospital in Hanoi is namedMai Hương ("the scent of plum"), situated in Hồng Mai (pink plum blossom) street.[72]Hoàng Mai (yellow plum blossom) is the name of a district inHanoi. Bạch Mai is also a long and old street in Hanoi. All these places are located in the south part of Hanoi, where, in the past, manyP. mume trees were grown.[citation needed]
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{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: overridden setting (link)Archived from the original on 4 July 2025.P. mume had its origin in South China around the Yangtze River (Kyotani, 1989b).
The results demonstrate that mei cultivars from Japan are clustered with cultivars from China, and support the hypothesis that mei in Japan were introduced from China.
Mei (Prunus mume) is an ornamental woody plant that has been domesticated in East Asia for thousands of years.
For example, the Huadian or forehead decoration was said to have originated in the South Dynasty, when the Shouyang Princess was taking a walk in the palace in early spring and a light breeze brought a plum blossom onto her forehead. The plum blossom for some reason could not be washed off or removed in any way. Fortunately, it looked beautiful on her, and all of a sudden became all the rage among the girls of the commoners. It is therefore called the "Shouyang makeup" or the "plum blossom makeup." This makeup was popular among women for a long time in the Tang and Song Dynasties.
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