This delicately-flowered cherry is providing floral interest in the Winter Garden.
Although commonly referred to as the Japanese apricot, Prunus mume is a deciduous tree native to China and Korea, and was introduced into cultivation in Japan, where it became one of the most widely grown garden trees. It reaches 8m in height, and produces white or pink, bowl-shaped, fragrant flowers, often in pairs, on young shoots in late winter and early spring. The flowers are followed by spherical, hairy, bitter, but edible fruits, which are often preserved by drying or salting. ‘Omoi-No-Mama’ is one of the more widely grown cultivars of P. mume, reaching 2.5m in height and bearing semi-double, almond-scented, white, flushed pink flowers. This is a good selection for both a small garden and a sheltered location, where the flowers will be afforded some protection from frost.