Prunus "Mume" - Japanese Apricot

[aframe]

Late December, 2014 - A young field grown Mume in flower. Still in garden soil. Large root on left needs to go. Then airlayer the top

 

[fredtruck]

Nice flowers.

 

[aframe]

Early February 2016 - repotting and removing large root. 2015 was difficult for this tree; warm winter with little rain. Very hot and long summer, pushed weak growth so work was deferred until now.
February 29th, 2016 - leafs opening.

 

[aframe]

Picture taken October 4th 2016 - great response to repotting, lots of vigorous growth through spring of 2016; roots almost fill the container now. Branches are loaded with flower buds. Looks like I'll be able to layer the top this spring, around April 2017.

 

[aframe]

Pictured on December 10th, 2016 - Flower buds starting to swell early this year. New buds on the trunk.

 

[JudyB]

So exciting!!!

 

[Don Blackmond]

Its an exciting time of year, waiting on the floral and fragrant splendor. I'm not sire there is a better smelling flower.

 

[JoeR]

I'm not sire there is a better smelling flower.

You just had to go and make me want one even more, didnt you? I've been looking at the cuttings evergreengardenworks sells to grow out.... Any preference on cultivar(s)?

 

[aframe]

Flowers opening 2 weeks earlier than the previous two years; leafs hadn't fallen yet, so I defoliated the tree.

 

[JudyB]

Ah, I can practically smell it from here. Beauty incarnate.

 

[Giga]

jealous, is all I can say

 

[leatherback]

Very nice. Can't wait for mine to pop buds. I am still some 8 week away I think.
Do we have a 'Show off your mumes' thread?

 

[GGB]

Love the species, I'm interested to see what you do with this. I wouldn't know where to start myself

 

[JudyB]

'Show off your mumes' thread?

we should!

 

[leatherback]

we should!

Now we do!

 

[petegreg]

Nice. @aframe , do you know the cultivar name? This is my favorite flower colour, my dream cultivar is 'Beni-Chidori', very similar to yours.

 

[aframe]

Love the species, I'm interested to see what you do with this. I wouldn't know where to start myself

Only thing I've decided is to remove the top. The trunk doesn't have nice, natural movement down low. Using any of the lowest branches as a new leader will create a sharp angle, and I don't want straight trunk sections above and below a sharp bend.

 

[aframe]

Nice. @aframe , do you know the cultivar name? This is my favorite flower colour, my dream cultivar is 'Beni-Chidori', very similar to yours.

I don't know the cultivar.

 

[aframe]

1/15/2017
Full Bloom

 

[JudyB]

Quite lovely. Still waiting on mine... So this is nice to see!