Question on Ume.

[Poink88]

I've been reading about ume and it is mentioned to be either flowering apricot or flowering plum. I was at Home Depot and saw several apricot and plum and wondering if these can be turned into bonsai ume. They are currently about 8 feet tall for $30.00 but grafted.

 

[berobinson82]

What would it matter to you? When you ask questions about stock, you defend with tooth and nail the ability to work any material.

 

[Poink88]

What would it matter to you? When you ask questions about stock, you defend with tooth and nail the ability to work any material.

Yes but given the choice I still go after the best I can. Please do not confuse the two.

 

[daygan]

What's referred to as "ume" is not just any generic apricot or plum, it's Prunus mume, referred to also as Chinese plum or Japanese apricot. So, no, you can't just turn any old apricot or plum into an ume. It'll still be whatever species it started out as whether it's in a pot or in the ground I don't now about others, but I personally think working with other apricot or plum species (aside from "ume") is an interesting endevor.

 

[rockm]

If you can work with a graft that will get uglier and uglier as time goes on, go for it.

The species or cultivar you're finding at Home Depot won't be the classic Japane ume, though. Oh, and if you want the rugged, cracked old classic ume trunk, you're going to have to wait 30 years or so on those saplings...Just sayin'

If it were me after one of these, I'd look to someone on the left coast. There are a couple of suppliers out that way who sell great older ume trunks they've developed from cuttings.

 

[Poink88]

Thanks guys! I will wait and get a "proper" ume.