Plum

[1][2] Plums are likely to have been one of the first fruits domesticated by humans, with origins in East European and Caucasian mountains and China.

Plums are a diverse group of species, with trees reaching a height of 5–6 metres (16–20 ft) when pruned.

Plums can be eaten fresh, dried to make prunes, used in jams, or fermented into wine and distilled into brandy.

Plum remains have been found in Neolithic age archaeological sites along with olives, grapes and figs.

The fame of the Victoria plum, first sold in 1844, has been put down to good marketing rather than any inherent quality.

The commercially important plum trees are medium-sized, usually pruned to 5–6 metres (16–20 ft) height.

They blossom in different months in different parts of the world; for example, in about January in Taiwan and early April in the United Kingdom.

Japanese or Chinese plums are large and juicy with a long shelf life and therefore dominate the fresh fruit market.

Although these cultivars are often called Japanese plums, two of the three parents (P. salicina and P. simonii) originated from China and one (P. cerasifera) from Eurasia.

[19] In some parts of Europe, European plum (Prunus domestica) is also common in fresh fruit market.

[21] If the weather is too dry, the plums will not develop past a certain stage, but will fall from the tree while still tiny, green buds, and if it is unseasonably wet or if the plums are not harvested as soon as they are ripe, the fruit may develop a fungal condition called brown rot.

Various flavors of dried plum are available at Chinese grocers and specialty stores worldwide.

[25] As with many other members of the rose family, plum kernels contain cyanogenic glycosides, including amygdalin.

Though not available commercially, the wood of plum trees is used by hobbyists and other private woodworkers for musical instruments, knife handles, inlays, and similar small projects.

[27] In 2019, global production of plums (data combined with sloes) was 12.6 million tonnes, led by China with 56% of the world total (table).

In a 100-gram (3+1⁄2-ounce) reference serving, raw plums supply 192 kilojoules (46 kilocalories) of food energy and are a moderate source only of vitamin C (12% Daily Value), with no other micronutrients in significant content (table).

Prunus (Old World plums) – leaves in bud rolled inwards; flowers 1–3 together; fruit smooth, often wax-bloomed Sect.

Prunocerasus (New World plums) – leaves in bud folded inwards; flowers 3–5 together; fruit smooth, often wax-bloomed Sect.