What season does蜡梅 (wax plum) bloom?
Today, the editor will explain the season when wax plum blooms and provide a detailed introduction to the topic of flowers and plants, followed by a joint understanding for everyone.
Wax plum is the most cold-resistant flower in winter. In the coldest days, the branches burst into yellow flowers, defying frost and snow, and exuding a delicate fragrance, embodying the character of a gentleman. It has been highly regarded by scholars and refined people since ancient times.
Wax plum is actually called蜡梅 (wax plum), and it is not a plum blossom. The original meaning of this name refers to the fact that its petals resemble yellow beeswax in color and its fragrance is similar to plum blossoms, blooming in the coldest days, hence the name wax plum, also known as yellow plum. It is a completely different type of plant from plum blossoms.
Wax plum belongs to the family蜡梅科 (wax plum family) and genus蜡梅属 (wax plum genus), with an early blooming period from November to the following March, the coldest time of the year. Plum blossoms, on the other hand, belong to the family蔷薇科 (rose family) and genus杏属 (apricot genus), with a blooming period from February to March, at the end of winter and beginning of spring. When wax plum petals fall, plum blossoms are ready to take over. Wax plum is both one of the earliest and latest flowers to bloom in a year, bridging the gap.
We often say that plum blossoms open alone in the cold, but this is a beautiful misconception. Plum blossoms are not as cold-resistant as we imagine, with an optimal blooming temperature of 6-7°C. They usually bloom in early spring, March to April, while wax plum can bloom as early as the tenth lunar month and continue to bloom until the following February, enduring the coldest part of the winter. Its yellow and moist petals provide a bright and warm feeling in the winter, along with a rich fragrance that is captivating.
China is the original habitat of wax plum, with wild wax plums mainly distributed in mountainous areas such as Shaanxi, Sichuan, Henan, Hunan, and Hubei. There are many wild wax plums in the Qinling and Daba Mountain areas. These flowers are small, with lighter colors and fragrance, and the inner petals are purple, blooming relatively late. This type of plum is considered inferior and is called dog-tooth wax plum. Good wax plum varieties have deeper yellow color and a strong fragrance, with consistent color inside and outside the petals, known as "plain-hearted wax plum," also called lotus plum.
What season does蜡梅 (wax plum) bloom?
There are many varieties of wax plum, with currently discovered 4 species groups, 12 species types, and a total of 165 varieties. Its petals are not only yellow but also dark yellow, purple yellow, silver white, and yellow white, with stamen colors including red, purple, and white.
Wax plum prefers a cool and dry environment with plenty of sunshine. Its roots are cold and drought-resistant, able to withstand -15°C in winter, which is more cold-resistant than plum blossoms. Wax plum can be planted in the open in areas south of Beijing, but if it blooms, the temperature should not be lower than -10°C, otherwise, the flowers will be frostbitten.
Wax plum can also bear fruit, but unlike the edible plums from plum blossoms, wax plum fruits are ugly and contain toxic alkaloids in the fruits, stems, and leaves. Caregivers should be careful not to randomly pick or eat them.