Most of my plantings of this tree are gone due to what appeared to be delayed graft incompatibility. Also when it is grown from seed spiny plants with ridiculous tiny flowers may result - I would definitely look for cutting raised (instead of grafted) stock of named horticultural clones, whenever possible.

During springs when brown rot is bad around here this species can be hit pretty hard - although it seems to come back well later, whereas Higan cherries affected during the same years may not always recover.

And for some reason when 'Matsubara Red' is planted in my area it soon slips into a state where only small flowers with gaps between the petals appear, as though adversely affected by our cool summers.

Yesterday I noticed a white flowered kind near me here was in bloom.

'Tojibari' is so spelled, extra fragrant and supposed to start blooming around Thanksgiving - but maybe it doesn't come out that early everywhere. Or every year.

I had never had a problem with black knot at my own farm until this year. The closest I had ever noticed it on any trees was many miles away. This winter I walked by my mumes, and they are absolutely eaten up with it! I guess I will have to remove every one of them (and very soon). None of the other Prunus species seems to have been hit, so far. (Knocking on my fake-wood computer desk).

Maybe you can make a new desk out of ume wood.

Is it normal for these to bloom this time of year?

'Matsubara Red' started in Feb. each year here (USDA 8), 'Peggy Clarke' came on a little later but the two did still end up with flowers out at the same time - early blooming plants may often be longer lasting in flower even than related kinds that bloom later in spring.

The answer to that depends on the location. I took this pic below @ Scott Arboretum (20 miles south of Philadelphia) today. You can see it is not as advanced as the others.

I don't know why I typed 'Tojibari' instead of 'Tojibai'. Anyway the key point was that - it being a Japanese name - wasn't spelled "Tohjibai", with an "h".

More apricots blooming today, this time from the federal agriculture research center in Beltsville MD which can be seen in the background. Here is 'Tama ume'

So pretty! Thanks so much for sharing with those of us who can't grow these.

NHBabs, you are quite welcome. Winter blooming trees are a real treat especially when they are fragrant like these.

Flowering apricot is usually grafted however sometimes those grafted trees are short-lived. They will make a better, stockier plant on their own roots.

My previous pic had rooted cuttings of 'Hanakami', here's one of them today.

I had to cut down my grafted 'Peggy Clarke', in full bloom cause it was time for me to have a bunch of branches chipped. They'd been accumulating. Fighting the rootstock had become a losing battle. No matter, I have a replacement from a bonsai nursery, on its own roots. (Ssshhhh, don't tell them I intend to plant it outside and not cripple it LOL)

Here's 'Peggy Clarke' last month. Flowers muted compared to previous years. Up and down temps not good for this species. Some flowers on this specimen are brown from freezing.

I got fruit on mine most years. Being near the chilly upper Bay keeps my spring temps from getting out of control. Sour tasting little things, but really not bad. The roasted kernels are tasty too, just don't eat too many.

@sam_md, I am so happy to find this post, since I am a great fan of Prunus mume. We have a 24 year old Bonita bought from Camellia Forest nursery in NC. This picture was in January 2023

The nursery still thrives last time we visited a couple years ago but they no longer sell Prunus mume.

Below is Bonita in January this year. We had 3 snows in January though none lasted long. Still the bloom is greatly pushed off at least 2 weeks

I got a dark red variety 朱砂 Cinnabar and it started to bloom last year. This year the small plant is loaded with buds. I understand it is a later bloomer than Bonita

I got some cuttings of Kobai from a friend and was able to root a few. Mine started to bloom last December but the rest of buds haven’t opened yet

My newest acquisition is the white variety 绿萼 green sepal。It has buds waiting to open

"Apricot tree very pretty and the little flower is sweet,

but the fruit of the poor apricot is impossible to eat" sam_md

@sam_md, however, the little apricots make excellent fruit wine. We made a batch a couple years ago and shared with friends. they all like it 🍷

Do you still live in DC? How are these Flowering Apricots doing this season? I never knew they planted a lot of these trees near national mall. Were they removed last year to repair the reservoir, like those cherry trees?

'Matsubara Red' @ US Botanic Garden. not my pic.

like many prunus, somewhere between a shrub and a tree.

answering f_a_n, AFAIK all trees in my OP are still there.

@sam_md, thanks for letting us know that those prunus mume trees are still there. And the Matsubara Red is really dark, and a teue blooming machine!

Our 24 year old Bonita in full bloom now

Sam if it's not your pic, do you know for sure it was taken last weekend?

Anyhow, I'm glad they are blooming down there. Changing the topic newbie, but do you have any Mahonia X medias? They also provide color at this time of year. I'm planning on introducing one via Camellia Forest but it won't be ready for a few years.

(Oh lord. Mahonia x media is now Berberis × hortensis )

@davidrt28 (zone 7), I don’t have Mahonia X medias. There was a couple of this shrub near my office and they smelt really very fragrant in the winter. The leaves had very sharp edges maybe that is why they were removed later.

朱砂 Cinnabar is almost in full bloom now. It is 2 weeks behind the pink Bonita

Forever, do you mind telling me where you got that? Was it a local SE VA nursery? I'm going to be down there later this spring, both to see family and visit a nursery or two.

@davidrt28 (zone 7), a friend in DC bought 朱砂 Cinnabar for me 3 years ago. They were imported oversea I believe. I heard sometimes some Asian Grocery or Chinese stores sell them around Lunar New Year.

Wow, that's wild! I've been to those big DC area Asian grocery stores like Lotte, but I've never seen hardy plants in them.

@davidrt28 (zone 7), if you can’t find a tree and would like to try rooting the cuttings, I can send you some branches in December. My pink Bonita is huge and the Cinnabar should be big enough to take some cuttings by then.

I thought the spring had come a few days ago, but now we had snow again

Cannot help sharing these beauties

Cinnabar actually looks better in real life.

绿萼 green sepal’s virgin flowers, finally.

A late variety?