Plant Details

Prunus salicina

Japanese plum

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Prunus salicina.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

36 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chinese plum[1]
  • Japanese plum[1]
Other languages (16)
Dutch
  • Japanse pruim[1]
  • Perzikpruim
French
  • Prunier du Japon[1]
  • Prunier japonais[1]
Bunun
Chinese (Simplified)
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 中國李[1]
  • 李 (南華李 中國李)[1]
Czech
  • slivoň vrbová[1]
Estonian
  • hiina ploomipuu[1]
  • pajulehine ploomipuu[1]
Finnish
  • japaninluumu[1]
German
  • Chinesische Pflaume[1]
  • Chinesischer Pflaumenbaum[1]
  • Dreiblütige Pflaume[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Japanischer Pflaumenbaum[1]
  • Susine[1]
Japanese
  • スモモ[1]
  • ニホンスモモ[1]
  • 酢桃[1]
Korean
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • 자두나무[1]
Polish
  • śliwa japońska[1]
Portuguese
  • Ameixeira-japonesa[1]
Russian
  • Слива китайская[1]
Slovak
  • slivka vŕbová[1]
Spanish
  • ciruelo chino[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Prunus salicina — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Chinese plum — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Japanese plum — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 李 (南華李 中國李) — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • ciruelo chino — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • pajulehine ploomipuu — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • hiina ploomipuu — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • slivoň vrbová — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • スモモ — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 李 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • bunuaz — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 자도나무 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Слива китайская — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 李子 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 자두나무 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 자두 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 오얏나무 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 中国李 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 李树 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 李子树 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Prunier japonais — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Prunier du Japon — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • ニホンスモモ — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 酢桃 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 布冧 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Ameixeira-japonesa — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • japaninluumu — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • 中國李 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Japanse pruim — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • śliwa japońska — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • slivka vŕbová — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Chinesische Pflaume — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Susine — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Japanischer Pflaumenbaum — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Chinesischer Pflaumenbaum — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.
  • Dreiblütige Pflaume — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 464594; Prunus salicina.

General information

Scientific name: Prunus salicina
Accepted name (Kew): Prunus salicina Lindl. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [6] [7]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Prunus (WCVP v16).

Sources [6]
Also known as: Japanese plum
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 6.1–10.06 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Spread: 4.57–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [1]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained

Preferred growing conditions. Moisture and drainage are different properties; well-drained soil is not necessarily dry.

Sources [1] [5]
Soil:
Loam (Silt)
Sources [1]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [1]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [1]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit flesh

Fruit flesh only. Remove seeds or stones; do not chew or eat the kernels.

Sources [1] [3] [4]
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Dye

Description

Japanese plum fruit flesh is eaten fresh, cooked, preserved or dried. Fruit quality and ripening time vary among cultivars. Ripe plums are perishable. The seed kernels should not be eaten; bitterness is not a validated safety test.

Sources [1] [2] [3] [4]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 20/07
Harvest ends: 20/09

Crown

Crown shape: Round
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. North Carolina State University Prunus salicina — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moistureEdible partsHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Cultural Conditions: Soil Drainage
    • Edible parts: Edibility; Poison Symptoms; Poison Part
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 33 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. University of Maine Cooperative Extension Plum Production in Maine, Bulletin #2034
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Harvest and Storage; Plum Varieties and Descriptions

    Source checked on .

  3. Japanese Society for Horticultural Science Changes in Cyanogenic Glycoside Content and β-Cyanoalanine Synthase Activity in Flesh and Seeds of Japanese Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) during Development
    Supports: DescriptionEdible parts
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Seed cyanogenic-glycoside findings for Japanese plum material
    • Edible parts: Seed cyanogenic-glycoside findings for Japanese plum material

    Source checked on .

  4. Canadian Food Inspection Agency Natural toxins in fresh fruit and vegetables
    Supports: DescriptionEdible parts
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Fruit seeds and stone-fruit kernels
    • Edible parts: Fruit seeds and stone-fruit kernels

    Source checked on .

  5. University of Florida IFAS Extension Growing Plums in Florida, HS895/HS250
    Supports: Soil moisture
    Relevant sections
    • Soil moisture: Site and soil selection for Japanese plum cultivation

    Source checked on .

  6. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 343710; name ID 2958711; Prunus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 315051; name ID 2961487; Prunus salicina Lindl..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  7. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Prunus salicina

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1041899, ID 4N976: Prunus salicina Lindl. (accepted).

    Source checked on .