Prunus mume Bongo Apricot Tree – 2-3 Ft Tall Live Plant – Fragrant Flowers – 3 Gallon Pot

Overview

Introduce a touch of timeless beauty and delightful fragrance to your landscape with the Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree. Also affectionately known as ‘Ume’ or Japanese Flowering Apricot, this magnificent live plant offers a dual appeal: stunning ornamental value and a bounty of delicious fruit. Standing at a healthy 2 to 3 feet tall, this particular cultivar, ‘Bongo’, is distinguished by its vibrant pinkish-white flowers that release a captivating, distinctive fragrance, especially enchanting during the late winter to early spring months. Beyond its floral display, the flowering apricot tree yields sizable fruits, often reaching up to 2 inches, perfect for fresh eating, preserves, or traditional Asian culinary uses. This resilient and rewarding tree makes an excellent addition to any garden, providing year-round interest and a sense of tranquility.

Cultivating a Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree allows you to enjoy both its aesthetic charm and the practicality of its fruit production. Its early blooming period is a welcome sign of spring, often flowering before many other deciduous trees, making it a focal point in the winter garden. The ‘Bongo’ variety is particularly cherished for its robust growth and consistent performance, ensuring a rewarding experience for both novice and experienced gardeners. Whether you’re looking to enhance your garden’s visual appeal or eager to harvest your own apricots, this ‘Ume’ apricot plant is an exceptional choice.

Key Benefits

The Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree offers a multitude of benefits, making it a highly desirable addition to any outdoor space. From its visual appeal to its practical yields, this tree is a true garden gem.

• Stunning Ornamental Display: Enjoy a spectacular show of pinkish-white flowers that emerge in late winter or early spring, often before the foliage, brightening up the dormant landscape. The delicate blooms are a visual delight.
• Distinctive Fragrance: The flowers of the flowering apricot tree emit a strong, sweet, and unique fragrance that can perfume an entire garden, offering a sensory experience unlike many other early spring bloomers.
• Delicious Edible Fruit: This ‘Ume’ apricot plant produces large, flavorful fruits up to 2 inches in size, which can be enjoyed fresh, pickled, preserved, or used in various culinary applications, offering a rewarding harvest.
• Early Bloomer: As one of the earliest trees to flower, it provides crucial nectar for early pollinators and a much-anticipated sign of spring, extending the season of garden interest.
• Robust Growth Habit: The ‘Bongo’ cultivar is known for its strong growth and adaptability, establishing well in various garden settings and proving to be a reliable performer.
• Year-Round Interest: Beyond its flowers and fruit, the tree provides attractive foliage during the growing season and interesting bark texture in winter, ensuring consistent garden appeal.
• Versatile Landscaping: Suitable for a variety of landscape uses, including specimen planting, small groves, or as part of a mixed border, making the Bongo apricot live plant a flexible choice for garden design.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree is straightforward, ensuring years of beautiful blooms and delicious fruit. Understanding its specific needs for sunlight, water, and soil will help it thrive. This tree prefers a site that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate sunlight is crucial for abundant flowering and fruit production. While it can tolerate partial shade, performance will be reduced. Choose a location with good air circulation to minimize disease risk.

When it comes to watering, consistent moisture is key, especially during its establishment period and throughout dry spells. Water deeply and regularly, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Once established, the flowering apricot tree is moderately drought-tolerant but will benefit from supplemental watering during prolonged dry periods. The ideal soil type is well-draining loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage. Good drainage is paramount to prevent root rot, which this species can be susceptible to.

The Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9, capable of withstanding winter temperatures in these regions. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer designed for fruiting trees. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can promote excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowers and fruit. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring after flowering but before new growth begins, to shape the tree, remove dead or diseased branches, and encourage fruit production. Common issues include aphids and powdery mildew, which can usually be managed with appropriate horticultural sprays or cultural practices. Providing proper care ensures a healthy and productive Ume apricot plant.

Size & Details

This offering is for a vibrant Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree, standing impressively at a height of 2 to 3 feet tall from the base of the plant to the tip of its highest branch. It arrives thoughtfully shipped in a robust 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a substantial root system that ensures a smooth transition to your garden or larger container. The ‘Bongo’ cultivar typically matures into a small to medium-sized tree, generally reaching heights of 15-20 feet with a similar spread, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens or as a striking specimen plant. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing you to enjoy its developing beauty over time. Expect the first significant blooms and fruit production within 2-4 years of planting, with increasing yields as the tree matures. This Bongo apricot live plant is ready to establish quickly and begin its journey of enhancing your landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree get? A: The Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree typically grows to a mature height of 15-20 feet with a similar spread. This makes it a great choice for various garden sizes without becoming overly dominant.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The flowering apricot tree is shipped in a sturdy 3-gallon pot, ensuring its root system is well-established for successful planting upon arrival.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree is an outdoor plant, thriving in garden settings where it can receive adequate sunlight and space to grow. It is not suitable for long-term indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This tree requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, to ensure optimal flowering and fruit production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Ume apricot plant is considered relatively easy to care for once established, requiring consistent watering, well-draining soil, and annual fertilization.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Bongo apricot live plant will arrive as a healthy, actively growing tree, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit, ready for planting.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: You can expect the first significant blooms and fruit production within 2-4 years of planting, with the tree becoming more prolific as it matures.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant your Prunus mume Bongo apricot tree is in early spring or fall, allowing it to establish its root system before extreme temperatures.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This tree is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. If you are in these zones, it should survive winter without special protection.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: The flowering apricot tree can tolerate temperatures down to approximately -10°F to 0°F, depending on the specific microclimate and establishment of the tree.