What are the characteristics of plum blossoms?
Introduction: This article discusses the characteristics of plum blossoms and the spirit and symbolism they represent, related to the topics of flower cultivation. It contains valuable knowledge and is worth saving for future reference!
Plum blossoms belong to the Rosaceae family, Prunus genus, and are deciduous trees. They can also refer to their fruit (plum) or flower (plum blossom), typically blooming in the winter and spring seasons. Along with orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, they are known as the "Four Gentlemen." They are also called the "Three Companions of Cold Winter" together with pines and bamboo, representing the flower of winter due to their cold-resistant characteristics. Let's take a look at the characteristics of plum blossoms together!
Physical characteristics of plum blossoms
Plum trees are small to medium-sized trees or rarely shrubs, reaching 4-10 meters in height. The bark is light gray or slightly green, with green branches. The leaves are ovate or elliptical, with a pointed tip and a wide cuneate to rounded base, often with small sharp锯齿 on the edges. The flowers are solitary or sometimes two flowers per bud, fragrant, blooming before the leaves, with short pedicels. The sepals are usually reddish-brown, with a wide bell-shaped calyx tube, ovate or nearly round sepals, and obovate petals that range from white to pink. The fruit is nearly spherical, sour in taste, with the flesh adhering to the stone, and an elliptical stone. The flowering period is winter to spring, and the fruiting period is May to June (July to August in North China).
Growth characteristics of plum blossoms
Plum blossoms prefer a warm climate and are not very cold-resistant, except for the apricot plum variety, which can endure -25℃ low temperatures. Generally, they can withstand -10℃ low temperatures, are somewhat drought-resistant, do not tolerate flooding, and have a long lifespan, reaching up to a thousand years. The flowering period is highly sensitive to climate changes, prefers higher humidity in the air, but dislikes heavy rain. They can tolerate high temperatures, growing even at 40℃, and develop best in regions with an average annual temperature of 16-23℃. They are very sensitive to temperature, blooming when the average temperature in early spring reaches -5 to 7℃, and if encountering low temperatures, the blooming period is delayed. If they bloom and encounter low temperatures, the flowering period can be extended.
Spiritual characteristics of plum blossoms
1. Plum blossoms are the first to bloom in the severe cold, then introduce the fragrance of the blooming flowers, so like chrysanthemums, they are revered and praised by poets. Chen Liang of the Song Dynasty wrote in his poem "Plum Blossom": "One flower suddenly changes first, all other flowers smell afterwards." The poet seized the characteristic of plum blossoms blooming first, writing about the quality of not fearing打击挫折 and daring to be the first in the world, both praising plum blossoms and himself. Wang Anshi wrote in his poem "Plum Blossom": "From afar, it is not snow, but a faint fragrance comes." The lines not only describe the plum blossoms' fragrance spreading with the wind but also implicitly show their purity and whiteness, achieving an artistic effect of fragrance and color. Lu You's famous poem "Ode to Plum Blossom" says: "Crushed into dust, only the fragrance remains." It uses plum blossoms to compare his unfortunate experiences and noble character of not conforming to evil. Wang Mian of the Yuan Dynasty wrote in his poem "Ink Plum": "Do not praise the color, only let the clear scent fill the universe." It also reflects his unwillingness to conform to evil through the ice-clear and jade-pure plum blossoms, with profound meaning in simple words.
2. Plum blossoms continue to bloom indomitably in the cold winter, symbolizing the indomitable, tenacious struggle, and invaluable quality of not fearing difficulties of our nation, all of which are well reflected in them. Ancient poets have praised plum blossoms in their poems: "In the corner, several plum branches bloom alone in the cold. From afar, it is not snow, but a faint fragrance comes." Plum blossoms are also considered the most upright among flowers. Although they grow in harsh environments, they still bloom happily, expressing an optimistic character that welcomes hope. Since ancient times, people have praised their spirit of braving the snow and their noble beauty of not competing with other flowers for spring.
The above [] introduces the characteristics of plum blossoms and a detailed explanation of the spirit and symbolism they represent, providing a comprehensive method of explanation. I hope it can serve as a starting point and solve your problems with green plants.