Plum Blossom
Prunus mume
Family: Rosaceae · Also called Mei Hua, Ume, Japanese Apricot, Prunopsis mume, Armeniaca mume
Green & Fresh · Winter–Spring bloomer
Plum blossom is East Asia's most revered flower, delicate five-petaled blooms in white, pink, or deep red opening on gnarled, dark branches in the coldest weeks of winter. The contrast between fragile beauty and harsh conditions makes it the supreme symbol of resilience in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean culture.
resilience, perseverance, renewal, hope
In the Victorian language of flowers, plum blossom means “Perseverance and hope, beauty born from hardship”. The national flower of China and one of the 'Four Gentlemen' of Chinese painting. Plum blossom represents noble character, blooming in the harshest cold while other plants sleep. It appears on Chinese New Year decorations, in thousands of classical poems, and in martial arts philosophy as a symbol of inner strength prevailing over adversity.
Did You Know?
Plum blossom has been cultivated in China for over 3,000 years, longer than almost any ornamental flower. There are over 300 named cultivars. The fruit (ume/méi) is used to make Japanese umeboshi pickles, Chinese plum sauce, and Korean maesil liqueur. Mao Zedong wrote a famous poem praising the plum blossom's defiance of winter.
Mountain slopes, stream banks, and cultivated gardens throughout East Asia
Plum Blossom is native to China. It naturally grows in mountain slopes, stream banks, and cultivated gardens throughout east asia.
Scent Profile
“A clean, sweet almond-honey fragrance, delicate yet penetrating in cold winter air. The scent is best at dusk and dawn, drifting from bare branches like an invisible promise of spring.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NamePrunus mume
- FamilyRosaceae
- Native ToChina
- Bloom SeasonWinter–Spring
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
The national flower of China and one of the 'Four Gentlemen' of Chinese painting. Plum blossom represents noble character, blooming in the harshest cold while other plants sleep. It appears on Chinese New Year decorations, in thousands of classical poems, and in martial arts philosophy as a symbol of inner strength prevailing over adversity.