Plum Tree (Prunus salicina)

Japanese plum (*Prunus salicina*), also called Chinese plum, is a deciduous, spring-flowering fruit tree. Its juicy plums are eaten fresh or cooked, while fruit size, color, harvest timing, and pollination needs vary among cultivars. ## Growing conditions [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-salicina/) describes white spring flowers and summer fruit, with a broad mature range of about 20–33 feet tall and 15–30 feet wide. It grows in full sun or partial shade and needs moist, well-drained ground; avoid heavy, waterlogged soil. Japanese plums are generally rounded and spreading. A sunny, open site gives the canopy room for flowering, fruiting, and picking. ## Maintenance Japanese plum cultivars often benefit from a compatible pollinizer; [Utah State University Extension](https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/plums-in-the-home-garden) advises choosing another Japanese or American cultivar rather than relying on a European plum for pollen. Water a newly planted tree enough to keep its root ball moist but not saturated, then irrigate deeply during dry periods. Prune in late winter or early spring to shape an open canopy, remove damaged wood, and keep the central branches balanced. Thin a heavy crop after frost risk has passed, and clear fallen fruit to make harvesting and cleanup easier.