Plum. Japanese plum (Japanese apricot). In design ume mostly refers to the blossom. Ume flowers have five rounded petals with many thin stamens arranged in a circle. The individual flower buds grow directly on the branches without stem. Colors vary from white to light pink, and red. The leaves only appear after the blossoms. Designs use the individual (stylized) flowers or show branches with flowers. Often the blossoms are simplified and stylized into an almost geometric design.
Although the five rounded petals are almost always recognizable there exist many slight variations on the basic design.
- Umebachi (梅鉢・うめばち) - The most basic stylized version, five circles representing the petals are arranged around a smaller circle.
- Mukouume (向こう梅・むこううめ) - A stylized design that shows the five petals as a merged shape with the stamen in a circular arrangement.
- Yaeume (八重梅・やえうめ) - Like the real flower some varieties of plum blossoms have multiple layers of petals, this is reflected in the design by adding a second layer of petals behind (between) the five main petals.
- Nejiume（捻じ梅・ねじうめ) - The five petals are either clockwise or counterclockwise slightly overlapping, creating a playful (electric-fan) shape and giving the impression of rotating.
- Kaiume (買い梅・かいうめ) - A stylized side view, showing three merged petals with the two smaller petals in front, and stylized stamen radiating from the bottom.
The flowers are sometimes confused with cherry (sakura) blossoms but are easy to recognize: sakura blossoms have a small v-shaped cut in the slightly elongated petals, while ume blossoms are more round. Ume blooms earlier (February) while sakura blooms in late March to April.
The fruit (plum) is used in many Japanese recipes, from liqueur to pickles.