Michael Charters, www.calflora.net
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Prunus mume 'Dione'
Plant Common Name
Dione Japanese Apricot, Japanese Apricot
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
The Dione Japanese apricot foretells an impending end to winter by displaying bubblegum pink flowers on barren branches. The double (extra petaled) flowers are delicately fragrant, look like pompoms or crumbled balls, and occur in mid- to late winter. Over time this tree develops more of a spreading, rounded canopy with gnarled branches and dark colored bark.
Japanese apricot is one of the glories of late winter. Delicate, lightly fragrant blossoms cover its bare, leafless branches on the cusp of spring's return. A native of China and the Korean peninsula, this small, deciduous tree has a rounded, spreading crown and develops beautiful, gnarled bark with age. It has been in cultivation for centuries, so there are lots of delightful cultivars to choose from. Unlike most fruit trees, Japanese apricot is also very long-lived, so most old selections are still in existence.
The simple, tapered, oval leaves of 'Dione' appear in mid-spring, after bloom time. They are slightly glossy and light green when they emerge, deepen to drab deep green by summer and then turn shades of yellow in fall. The flower buds emerge and open any time from midwinter to early spring, depending on local climate. They are commonly damaged by severe winter cold, so plant them in spots protected by harsh winter winds and cold snaps. They are pollinated by bees, and the small, yellow apricots that follow mature by late summer. Japanese apricots are edible but have a sour, bitter taste. In Asia they are often pickled.
For best flowering and overall habit, grow a Dione Japanese apricot in full or partial sun. It is best adapted to soils that are somewhat fertile and well-drained. All pruning should be done immediately after the flowering season. This encourages more branching and more profuse flowering the following winter. Trim off some twigs to enjoy as the buds open in winter as part of a floral bouquet.
