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Prunus mume or plum blossom, also known as méihuā, in Mandarin, has become China’s national flower by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China since July 21, 1964. It is native to mainland China, flowering between late winter and early spring. Chinese new year’s flowers are also called plum blossoms because they are commonly used as tokens to welcome the New Year and the spring season.
Moreover, in Chinese literary works, the plum blossom is related to a noble character since it always blossoms in the cold winter. It is used as a representation of the winter and a spring bringer. Like other magnificent trees, plum blossoms are popular choices for bonsai. The plum blossom has adorned a lot of the samurai’s family crest, and it is also the national flower of China.
Plum blossom plant height is about 6-10 meters, and the flowers are about 2.5 cm in diameter. The leaves are unique because they are round and shaped like a heart. In summer, the leaves turn into dark green and turn into light green after the petals fall off. The tree is resistant to pruning, so it is often called a Chinese flower pot and used as plum blossom bonsai. Even though it is old, this tree can still flower a lot. Get to know this gorgeous Chinese flower by reading the article below!
Where to see plum blossoms in Taipei?
Because the flower blooms close to the Chinese New Year, it has become Chinese new year flowers and a tourist attraction in spring. You can explore Taipei for flower viewing in winter at Shilin Official Residence, there is an old plum tree forest along the road to the west of the rose garden. Other than that, plum blossoms can also be found in Zhicheng Park, a Chinese-style garden, Floriculture Experiment Center, and Sun Yat-sen Park. The beauty that appears from the flower can bring happiness to people around like a plum blossom that blooms beautifully.
What do plum blossoms symbolize?
Plum blossoms means resilience because of their resistance to the cold winter. Winter is the worst and most challenging season of the year. In winter, the days are significantly shorter for a longer night length than in other seasons. This Chinese flower is a type of tree that survives the cold of winter due to the plum blossom tree roots deeply rooted a few meters deep below the surface. The solid seeds are planted so that the plum flowers can survive wind and cold temperatures.
Also, this Chinese flower plant symbolizes perseverance and new hope. When the winter wind leaves the trees with only branches, the plum blossoms appear to bloom. The trees’ flowering of the plum blossoms means that spring has come, synonymous with hope. When the air becomes cooler and the wind blows strong, the plum blossoms remained on the tree, flower buds began to appear and bloom one by one.
Where do plum blossoms grow?
The plum blossom plants have grown and have been used in China for an incredibly long time. Plum blooms have been cultivated for more than 1,500 years. It started in southern China, along the Yangtze River, delta region, including Suzhou, Shanghai, and Hangzhou, with the giant plum garden in Wuxi, and became famous during the Tang dynasty.
They are grown in China but are mainly grown throughout the south of the Chiang Jiang River. You can see them spreading naturally along forested hills, scattered forests, along lakes, and in the mountains.
What does plum blossom smell like?
As claimed by a Chinese proverb, the Plum flower’s vibrant fragrance “comes from the bitterness and coldness” of the winter season. Plum flowers are amongst the “four nobles,” plants admired for their noble qualities, such as integrity (orchid) and modesty (chrysanthemum) that make them the king of flowers.
Several perfume companies made plum blossom one of its variants because of its fragrance. Plum flowers are indeed very fragrant with an aroma described as spicy, pleasant, and floral. The fragrant plum blossoms can inspire us to keep doing good things to be remembered, just like the plum blossom’s fragrance.
What is plum flower good for?
The Plum flower is used in traditional Chinese medicinal goods. Usually made as Chinese flower tea, it has many health benefits that include conventional antibacterials and is beneficial to the digestive organs. However, do not consume these flowers too much, and the fruit that is young and green cannot be eaten because it contains hydrogen cyanide.
Plum blossoms could be used as a garnish or decoration on bakery products or icing desserts. They add a few blooms to a green salad for a bit of color. The flower is not only attractive to look at in the spring but has benefits for skincare. The plum blossoms are extracted into skincare products such as toner, serum, and moisturizer.
What month do plum trees blossom?
This Chinese flower plant usually blooms when the weather is still cold, around January to March. Therefore, plum flowers’ blooming is typically a sign of the coming spring and is characterized by a fragrant aroma around the trees.
Plum blossom vs Cherry blossom
Plum blossoms bloom faster than cherry blossoms. Usually, there are pink, light pink, or white flowers blooming in every garden at the end of January. It is a sign that the beginning of spring is coming. Plum blossoms bloom on twigs, and the petals are round, which is the main characteristic of plum blossoms. Cherry blossom’s buds can bloom like a bouquet at once and make them look like a rose in Chinese, while plum blossom bud is only one.
Additionally, plum flower petals are usually dark pink or reddish-purple, while cherry blossom’s is light pink. And then, the average cherry blossoms bloom from April to the end of May, while plum blossom’s flowers only bloom during the mid-February. The cherry blossoms’ petals are long and have a small aperture at the end of the petal. As cherry blossom trees, plum blossoms are particularly popular as bonsai.
