The prunus mume is better known as Japanese apricot and belongs to the Rosaceae family. Native to China where it has been cultivated (as tree, pot plant and bonsai) for over 1,500 years, comes this delightful small tree. It is part of large genus containing some of the most beautiful flowering shrubs for the temperate regions. They make a great bonsai. It is a deciduous tree, that grows fast, up to 9m by 6m. The prunus mume is a rounded, dense, with twiggy growth tree.With green shoots and dark alternate green leaves 2 to 4? long, it produces, as early as February, long before these emerge and at a time one feels the need for some cheer in the garden, a profusion of white, spicy cinnamon scented flowers, each an inch or more across, that can perfume the area around. They are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs), and will be pollinated by insects. Hardiness zones: 6-9 (-20øC/-5øF, -5øC/25øF) in winter. The Prunus mume will thrives in a well-drained moisture-retentive loamy soil, growing well on limestone. Prefers some lime in the soil but is likely to become chlorotic if too much lime is present. This tree requires a sunny position and a sheltered site. This species is hardy to about -15øC; it succeeds when grown against a sunny wall in or in sheltered woodland. Most members of this genus are shallow-rooted and will produce suckers if the roots are damaged.