Plants

Japanese plum

Prunus salicina

Family: Rosaceae · Genus: Prunus

Chinese plum

Secondary I Medium No biomass production

Japanese plum — Franz Xaver · CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

A deciduous plum tree originating in China, widely grown in southern Brazil as a temperate fruit crop. It has a moderate chill requirement (cultivars of 200–500 hours below 7 °C) and performs well in the highlands of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. It flowers in late winter and fruits from late spring into summer.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Prunus triflora Roxb., Prunus thibetica Franch.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Secondary I
Ecological role: Early secondary
Primary stratum: Medium
Strata: Medium
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Low
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 6–7
Preferred soil texture: Loamy
Hardiness zones: 5–9
Frost tolerance: -20.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height: 4–8 m
Recommended spacing: 4–6 m
Root system: Lateral
Root depth: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: 15–30 years
Time to first harvest: 36 months
Productive lifespan: 20 years

Biomes & climate

Pampa Suitable
Atlantic Forest Suitable

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Japanese plum takes the Medium stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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🪴 Cultivation

Most cultivars are self-incompatible and need a compatible pollinizer nearby. Propagated by grafting. Lower-chill cultivars are better suited to southern Brazil.

✂️ Management & Pruning

Train to an open-center (vase) form to ventilate the canopy and expose fruit to sun. Japanese plum bears on spurs and one-year-old wood, so prune lightly each winter (Jun–Aug) to renew young productive wood. Thin heavy fruit set to improve size and prevent limb breakage.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: July, August, September

Fruiting months: November, December, January

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of Japanese plum?

The first harvest of Japanese plum comes around 36 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for Japanese plum?

The recommended spacing for Japanese plum is 4–6 m.

How tall does Japanese plum grow?

At maturity, Japanese plum reaches 4–8 m tall.

When does Japanese plum fruit?

Fruiting of Japanese plum occurs in November, December, January.

When does Japanese plum flower?

Flowering of Japanese plum occurs in July, August, September.

What stage and stratum does Japanese plum occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, Japanese plum belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit 🐝 Attracts pollinators 🍯 Melliferous

Propagation

Grafting, Cutting

Citations

Wikipedia (scientific_name, synonyms, height_min_m, height_max_m, gbif_taxon_key, wikidata_qid, propagation)
Plants For A Future (pruning_notes, ph_min, ph_max, time_to_first_harvest_months)
POWO (powo_id, scientific_name)