Plum Blossoms vs. Cherry Blossoms

March 18, 2019

Cherry blossoms are pretty much synonymous with Japanese culture meaning most people are probably aware of them. What some may not be aware of, however, are the equally beautiful but less famous Japanese plum blossoms! Plum blossoms, like cherry blossoms are a signal for the beginning of spring, and though they are often overshadowed by the popular cherry blossoms, the flowers are stunning in their own right. Though they are similar in some ways, they are also quite different in appearance, variations and blooming period. So if you’re interested in viewing some of Japan’s beautiful blossoms this spring, here’s a brief outlook on plum and cherry blossoms.

Difference in Appearance

If you are unaware of plum blossoms but are aware of cherry blossoms then you may mistake the former for the latter! As they are similar in some ways it is easy to make this mistake and people often confuse plum blossoms (especially in pink variations) as cherry blossoms! Despite often being mistaken, their appearances do differ in several ways. Here are some differences so you can spot which blossom you have found.

The first difference is the variety of hues that the flowers come in. Plum blossoms, depending on the tree, can be white, pink (dark and light), dark red and occasionally a light yellow, whereas cherry blossoms usually come in only pink/white variations.

Secondly the actual shape of the flowers is different too. Plum blossoms have rounder petals and round buds, compared to the more oval shaped petals and buds of cherry blossoms. Cherry blossom petals also have a split at the end whereas plum blossoms do not.

As well as these two differences, there is also another way to spot the difference. The leaves on both trees are quite different. Cherry blossom leaves are green and unfolding, unlike the plum blossom leaves which are a reddish purple (except for on some white plum blossom trees which can have green leaves).

Finally though cherry blossoms tend to have little or no smell, plum blossoms on the other hand have a rather strong, sweet fragrance, making them a treat for the eyes and nose!

When to See Them

In addition to aesthetic differences these two blossoms actually bloom at different times (although occasionally there can be crossovers). The best time to see cherry blossoms is typically at the very end of March or very early April (this can vary slightly depending on the year). Normally the flowers start to bloom in late March meaning the perfect time to see the full blossoms is in the last few days of March. Cherry blossom season usually lasts around 2 weeks and so there is only a short period that you are able to see the pretty blossoms. As for plum blossoms, the flowers start to bloom a lot earlier than cherry blossoms, usually starting around mid-February (depending on the variation). These blossoms are best to see towards the end of February when they are reaching full bloom and usually last until mid March!