Mexican plums (
Prunus mexicana) are some of the showiest trees in our arboretum. In honor of this, they've been featured more than once on the blog. This week they are delighting us with a demonstration of color. The Mexican plums are loaded with a multitude of fruits at all stages of ripening. The transition includes many beautiful hues of orange and red. The pictures below depict the copse of trees located near the Student Union Building. You can read more about this grouping on a previous
post.
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Unripe
plums are green or pale yellow, thus blending in with the surrounding
foliage. These fruits have started to ripen, taking on a golden-colored hue.
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| These pink-colored plums still need more time to ripen. |
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| The red-orange color of the plums are more conspicuous against the greenness of the foliage. |
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| These fruits look good enough to eat. They are very firm and tart. Allow more time for the finest flavor. |
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| Much of the fruit has dropped early, littering the ground with pastel-colored orbs. |
