Flowering Plum Tree Facts
If you are looking for an ornamental, flowering tree of medium size, the flowering plum may be the tree for you. This is a tree where you seem to have it all. Springtime gives you a flower show of sweet smelling pink blossoms The leaves of the flowering plum tree will transition from from shiny green to deep burgundy in the summertime. If that's not enough, small juicy plums will grow among the branches. Does this Spark an idea?
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Appearance
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The light pink blossoms of the flowering plum cluster together in groups of two or three; they last several days. Once the flowers have flourished and fragranced the area for days and then dropped, the leaves begin to emerge. First appearing as soft and shiny, they mature to a burgundy or purple-green color. The foliage is as admired as the earlier show of flowers. At its full height, the tree will reach 20 to 25 feet, with a top or crown of 15 feet. The bark is rough and dark brown. Late in summer, the fruit begins to appear.
Care
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Simple care is needed to grow and maintain a flowering plum tree. It is not particular to the type of soil it is planted in. However, it does prefer a sunny location or only a partially shaded spot. Pruning in the early years may be needed to help maintain its shape. Later years will require pruning if there are crossed branches or crowding. Any suckers that grow up from the roots need to be removed. The first two years of life require weekly watering's of 15 to 20 gallons of water. During the third year, that is reduced to 15 to 20 gallons twice a month. After that time period, water it on an as-needed basis; that will depend on the soil, amount of sun and rainfall, and wind conditions.
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Diseases
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If the tree is stunted and growing poorly, it may be infected with black knot. The name is descriptive of the appearance of the disease. Highly visible black knots appear on the branches. They multiply quickly and can be found on most of the tree's branches. The infected branches should be pruned out two to three inches below the knot. The infected wood should be removed as the spores continue to live within the removed branch for several weeks.
While only cosmetic, shothole fungus (fungus that causes holes in leaves) can become severe enough to cause a tree to lose all its leaves. A protective fungicide should be sprayed to help with the control of the fungus.
Brown rot is not toxic and often occurs when the ripe fruit is not harvested promptly. Small spots of rot can be cut away. However, if left unattended, the whole fruit will rot and be inedible.
Uses
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Though the fruit of the flowering plum is small, plums are used in a variety of ways. The juice is very sweet and can be used in jam making. Fermenting plum juice results in plum wine. If the wine is distilled it becomes a plum brandy. When dried whole, a plum is known as a prune. Recent years have found advertisers calling them dried plums rather than prunes due to the past popular use as an aid by the elderly for constipation.
Locations
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Because flowering plum trees will grow in any soil as long as it has adequate water and the required amount of sun, it is grown worldwide. In Eastern Europe, the distilled plum wine (brandy) is known by many names: Slivovitz, Rakia, Tzuica, and Palinka. Chinese grocers (as well as specialty stores worldwide) sell a variety of flavored dried plums. In Asia, plums are often pickled as a preserve. Umeboshi (Japanese plums) are used in rice balls. Plums in the United States are most often consumed as a hand held fruit.
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