Description

The Mokel Flowering Apricot is a living sculpture of spring elegance. Celebrated for its exquisite double flowers, its branches are lavishly adorned with ruffled rosettes of soft pink petals set against striking reddish-crimson calyxes. This stunning visual display is complemented by the same intoxicating, spicy-sweet fragrance that defines the ume species. While its ornamental value is paramount, it reliably produces a crop of small, tart green fruits, offering the bonus of homegrown ingredients for authentic Japanese culinary projects, from tangy pickles to sweet homemade liqueur. Mokel is the choice for the connoisseur who desires peak floral beauty paired with practical, flavorful harvests.

• Renowned for its spectacular display of fragrant, double-form pink flowers with vivid red calyxes in late winter.

• Provides year-round interest: spring blooms, summer greenery, small ornamental fruits, and fall color.

• An ideal size for residential landscapes, easily maintained as a focal point or patio tree.

• Produces classic, firm, sour ume fruits perfect for traditional preserving, pickling (umeboshi), and making sweet-style plum wine.

• Follows the classic “flowers-first” habit, with oval, serrated leaves appearing after the bloom period.

• Self-fertile and deciduous, with a moderate growth habit.

Flavor Profile (of the Fruit):

• Flavor: Predominantly tart and refreshing with balanced acidity.

• Texture: Dense, hard, and chewy—the ideal texture for pickling.

• Primary Uses: Best suited for processing into Japanese pickles (umeboshi), sweet umeshu (plum wine), preserves, and dried products.