How to Tell the Difference Between Plum Blossoms and Cherry Blossoms

Co-authored by Maggie Moran

Last Updated: September 4, 2021

Have you ever heard of plum blossoms? These sweet flowers bloom in the winter and are often mistaken for the more popular flower out of the two, the cherry blossom. If you don't know which is which, this wikiHow is for you!

1

Examine the end of the petals.

Cherry blossoms will have a part that curves inwards at the end of the petals, like a tiny spike. Plum blossoms have rounded petals as you'd see with a normal flower.
- Sometimes, the part that curves inwards on the cherry blossom will be very subtle and/or small, so you'll have to look closely to see it.
- If you can't see it clearly, it may help to compare other things to tell which flower it is.

2

Look at the buds of the flower.

Plum blossoms will have rounded buds (like it has rounded petals). Cherry blossom buds, on the other hand, will usually be in the shape of an oval. Also, many cherry blossom buds/flowers will come out of each stem, while only one plum blossom bud/flower comes out of each stem.
- A bud is an undeveloped flower, and can usually be found at the tip of the stem. You should see a slight bit of pink to magenta color on the bud, which is the flower.

3

Take note of the color of the flower.

The most common cherry blossom colors are white, and light/dark pink. Plum blossoms can also be those colors, but they can be red as well. If you see a red flower that looks like a plum/cherry blossom, it is probably a plum blossom.

4

Smell the flower.

Plum blossoms will have a light, sweet, flowery smell. It'll smell very good. Cherry blossoms will usually have a light/faint smell with a few exceptions.

5

Look at the leaves of the flower.

Plum blossoms will have leaves ranging from red to purple most of the time. However, cherry blossoms will have normal green leaves, ranging from light green to darker shades.
- Another thing to take into account is the appearance of the leaves. The leaves of the plum blossom will look rolled, but the leaves of the cherry blossom will look folded.
- The leaves of the cherry blossom come out after it blooms, but the plum blossom leaves come out as they bloom.

6

Look at the bark of the tree.

Cherry blossom bark will have small horizontal lines on it, with a light shade of gray. Plum blossom bark won't have lines, with a darker shade of gray.
- Plum blossom bark looks more like a normal tree's bark.
- Usually the small horizontal lines of the cherry blossom bark will have a darker shade than the tree bark's shade.

7

Look at the overall shape of the trees.

Plum blossoms will generally have a rounder overall shape. Cherry blossoms will also look round but resemble more of an umbrella shape.
- Cherry blossoms will often have their flowers hanging around, like lights coming from the ceiling.

8

Take note of the blooming season.

The cherry blossom usually blooms at the start of spring, which is usually around April. The plum blossom blooms in mid-winter (which is January-February), when it's cold outside.
- If it's spring and you are trying to tell which is which, it's probably a cherry blossom.
- If it's winter and you're trying to tell which is which, it's probably a plum blossom.

Expert Q&A

Question

Do cherry blossom trees produce fruit?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Cherry blossom trees do produce small cherries, although the fruit is inedible.