Overview

Introduce a touch of early spring splendor to your landscape with the exquisite Prunus mume Mokel live plant. Also known as the Japanese apricot or flowering plum, ‘Mokel’ is a highly prized cultivar celebrated for its spectacular, fragrant pink blossoms that emerge in late winter to early spring, often before other trees begin to stir. This particular specimen stands 2 to 3 feet tall and is shipped securely in a 3-gallon pot, ensuring a robust start in your garden. Beyond its stunning floral display, the ‘Mokel’ variety also produces charming 1 to 1 1/4 inch fruits, which are sometimes used for pickling, adding a unique culinary dimension to its ornamental value. Whether you’re looking to create a focal point in your garden or add to an existing collection of flowering trees, the Japanese apricot tree ‘Mokel’ offers year-round interest and a delightful harbinger of spring.

The Prunus mume Mokel live plant is a testament to nature’s artistry, combining visual appeal with practical benefits. Its resilience and striking beauty make it a favorite among gardeners and landscape designers. Prepare to be enchanted by its delicate yet vibrant blooms and the subtle fragrance that permeates the crisp early spring air. This tree promises to transform your outdoor space into a haven of tranquility and natural elegance.

Key Benefits

The Prunus mume Mokel live plant offers a multitude of benefits, making it an exceptional addition to any garden or landscape. Its unique characteristics provide both aesthetic pleasure and practical advantages that discerning gardeners will appreciate.

• Spectacular Early Blooms: Enjoy a breathtaking display of vibrant pink flowers in late winter to early spring, providing much-needed color and fragrance when most other plants are still dormant. This early bloom makes the Mokel flowering plum a standout feature.
• Attractive Fruit Production: Produces charming 1 to 1 1/4 inch fruits that can be enjoyed ornamentally or used for culinary purposes, such as traditional pickling.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, this Prunus mume variety is relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal attention to thrive and flourish.
• Pollinator Friendly: The early blooms provide a valuable nectar source for early emerging pollinators, supporting local ecosystems.
• Ornamental Value: With its elegant form, attractive foliage, and stunning flowers, the ‘Mokel’ adds significant ornamental value to any garden design.
• Adaptable Growth: Known for its adaptability to various soil types and climates within its hardiness zones, making it a versatile choice for many regions.
• Unique Culinary Potential: The fruit, though tart, offers opportunities for unique preserves and pickling, a traditional use for Japanese apricot tree fruit.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Prunus mume Mokel live plant is a rewarding experience, leading to years of beautiful blooms and robust growth. Understanding its specific needs will help ensure a healthy and vibrant tree. This early pink bloom tree thrives with proper attention to its environmental conditions.

For optimal growth, plant your Prunus mume Mokel live plant in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, abundant sunlight encourages the most prolific flowering and fruiting. Ensure the soil is well-draining, as Prunus mume does not like to sit in waterlogged conditions. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0-7.0) is ideal. When planting, amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage, or sandy soils to enhance water retention. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.

Water regularly during the first growing season to help establish a strong root system. Once established, the tree is moderately drought-tolerant but will benefit from consistent watering during dry spells, especially when fruiting. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for flowering trees and shrubs, following the product’s instructions. Pruning should be done after flowering to shape the tree, remove any dead or diseased branches, and encourage new growth. The Prunus mume care routine also includes monitoring for common pests and diseases, though ‘Mokel’ is generally quite resilient. This tree is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9, making it suitable for a wide range of climates.

Size & Details

The Prunus mume Mokel live plant you receive will be a healthy, actively growing specimen, measuring approximately 2 to 3 feet in height from the top of the soil line. It is carefully nurtured and shipped in a sturdy 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a well-developed root system ready for transplanting. This size makes it an excellent choice for immediate impact in your garden or for continued growth in a larger container. The ‘Mokel’ variety is known for its moderate growth rate, eventually reaching a mature height of 15-20 feet with a similar spread, forming a beautiful, rounded canopy. Expect the spectacular early pink blooms to appear in late winter to early spring, followed by the development of its distinctive 1 to 1 1/4 inch fruit.

This deciduous tree offers visual interest throughout the seasons, starting with its vibrant winter blooms, followed by fresh green foliage in spring and summer, and eventually producing its unique fruit. The substantial 3-gallon pot ensures that the plant has ample nutrients and space for initial growth, minimizing transplant shock when moved to its permanent location. With proper care, your Prunus mume Mokel live plant will quickly establish itself and become a cherished feature in your landscape for many years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Prunus mume Mokel live plant get? A: This particular plant is shipped at 2 to 3 feet tall in a 3-gallon pot. When mature, the Japanese apricot tree ‘Mokel’ typically reaches a height and spread of 15-20 feet, forming an attractive, rounded shape.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Prunus mume Mokel live plant is an outdoor plant. It thrives 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: For the best flowering and fruiting, your Mokel flowering plum requires full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. It can tolerate partial shade, but performance may be reduced.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, the Prunus mume Mokel live plant is considered relatively easy to care for. It requires well-draining soil, consistent watering during establishment, and occasional fertilization and pruning.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your early pink bloom tree will arrive as a healthy, live plant, securely packaged in its 3-gallon nursery pot with soil, ensuring its roots are protected during transit.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this tree? A: The best time to plant your Prunus mume Mokel live plant is in early spring or fall, when temperatures are moderate. This allows the tree to establish its root system before extreme heat or cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The ‘Mokel’ variety of Prunus mume care indicates it is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. If you are within these zones, it should successfully overwinter outdoors.
• Q: Can the fruit be eaten? A: Yes, the fruit of the Japanese apricot tree ‘Mokel’ is traditionally used for pickling and making preserves. It is quite tart when raw.
• Q: What kind of soil does it prefer? A: This tree prefers well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Amending heavy clay soils with organic matter is recommended to improve drainage.
• Q: How often should I water it? A: Water regularly during the first year to help establish roots. Once established, water when the top few inches of soil feel dry, especially during periods of drought or when the tree is fruiting.