Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ Apricot Tree – Live Plant, 3-4 Ft Tall, 3 Gallon Pot, Outdoor

Overview

Introduce a touch of elegance and productivity to your garden with the Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree. This exceptional live plant, often referred to as the Japanese Flowering Apricot or ‘Ume’, is celebrated for its dual appeal: breathtaking ornamental value and delightful fruit production. Our ‘Bongo’ variety is a vigorous grower, arriving as a healthy specimen, 3 to 4 feet tall, and ready to thrive in your outdoor space. It’s known for its stunning pinkish-white blossoms that emerge in late winter to early spring, filling the air with a distinctive, sweet fragrance. Beyond its beautiful flowers, the Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree yields large, flavorful fruits, reaching up to 2 inches in size, perfect for fresh eating, preserves, or traditional Asian cuisine. This deciduous tree offers year-round interest, from its early blooms to its summer fruit and attractive fall foliage, making it a cherished addition to any landscape.

Key Benefits

The Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree offers a multitude of benefits, blending aesthetic beauty with practical utility. It’s an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a plant that provides visual appeal, delightful aromas, and edible rewards.

• Stunning Early Season Blooms: Enjoy a spectacular display of pinkish-white flowers that bloom in late winter to early spring, often before other trees awaken. This early bloom provides a crucial nectar source for early pollinators and a welcome splash of color during colder months.
• Distinctive Fragrance: The blossoms of the Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree are renowned for their captivating, sweet fragrance, which can perfume an entire garden space, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.
• Delicious Large Fruits: Produce abundant, large apricots, up to 2 inches in diameter, perfect for fresh consumption, making jams, jellies, or traditional Japanese umeboshi (pickled plums). The fruit offers a unique sweet-tart flavor.
• Ornamental Value: Beyond its flowers and fruit, the ‘Bongo’ apricot provides attractive foliage and a graceful tree form, contributing to the overall beauty and structure of your garden throughout the seasons. It makes an excellent specimen tree or an attractive addition to mixed borders.
• Adaptable and Resilient: This flowering apricot is relatively hardy and adaptable to various soil conditions, making it a robust choice for many climates. With proper care, it can become a long-lived and rewarding part of your landscape.
• Cultural Significance: Known as ‘Ume’ in Japan, this tree holds significant cultural importance, symbolizing perseverance and hope, adding a rich historical and cultural layer to your garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree is straightforward, ensuring years of beautiful blooms and delicious fruit. This tree thrives in conditions that mimic its native environment, requiring attention to sunlight, soil, water, and occasional feeding. For optimal growth, choose a site that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate sunlight is crucial for robust flowering and fruit production. While it can tolerate partial shade, flowering and fruiting may be diminished.

When it comes to watering, consistent moisture is key, especially during dry periods and in its first few years after planting. Water deeply and regularly, allowing the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. The ideal soil for this Ume tree for sale is well-draining, fertile loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage. This tree is hardy in USDA zones 6-9, tolerating winter temperatures down to -10°F (-23°C). In colder zones, consider planting in a sheltered location or providing winter protection.

Fertilize your Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for fruit trees. Follow the product instructions for application rates. Pruning is best done after flowering to shape the tree, remove dead or crossing branches, and encourage fruit production. Regular pruning also helps maintain good air circulation, reducing the risk of disease. Watch out for common fruit tree pests and diseases; good cultural practices and occasional organic treatments can help keep your tree healthy. Providing proper care will ensure your ornamental fruit tree flourishes.

Size & Details

This Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree is a live plant, shipped expertly packaged and ready for planting. Each specimen stands approximately 3 to 4 feet tall from the base of the pot, providing a significant head start for growth in your garden. It comes established in a 3-gallon nursery pot, ensuring its root system is well-developed and ready to adapt to its new environment. The ‘Bongo’ variety is known for its moderate growth rate, typically adding 12-24 inches of height per year under ideal conditions. Expect to see its first blooms and potentially some fruit within 1-3 years of planting, with increasing yields as the tree matures. This tree is ideal for creating a focal point in your landscape, adding to an edible garden, or integrating into a diverse planting scheme. You’ll soon enjoy the beauty of its fragrant apricot blooms.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree get? A: A: The Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree typically grows to a mature height of 15-20 feet and a spread of 10-15 feet. Its ultimate size can be managed with proper pruning.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This live plant is shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a healthy root system for successful transplanting into your garden or a larger container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree is an outdoor plant. It requires a period of winter chill to produce flowers and fruit effectively and thrives in garden settings.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For best results, this flowering apricot needs a location with full sun, meaning at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. This ensures abundant blooms and fruit.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: While not entirely hands-off, the Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ is considered moderately easy to care for. Providing adequate sunlight, well-draining soil, and consistent watering are the main requirements for a healthy tree.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ apricot tree will arrive as a healthy, actively growing live plant, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit. It will be 3-4 feet tall in its 3-gallon pot.
• Q: How long until it blooms and fruits? A: You can typically expect your ‘Bongo’ apricot tree to start producing its beautiful, fragrant apricot blooms and some fruit within 1 to 3 years after planting, with full production as it matures.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This Prunus mume ‘Bongo’ is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. If you are in these zones, it should successfully overwinter outdoors. For zones colder than 6, winter protection may be necessary.
• Q: What is the best time to plant this ornamental fruit tree? A: The ideal time to plant your ornamental fruit tree is in early spring or fall, allowing the roots to establish before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Can the fruit from this Ume tree be eaten fresh? A: Yes, the fruit from the Ume tree for sale can be eaten fresh, though it is also very popular for making preserves, juices, and traditional Japanese pickled umeboshi due to its unique tart-sweet flavor.