'Bonita' Japanese Apricot

In the middle of winter when most gardeners have surrendered to hot chocolate and seed catalogs, 'Bonita' quietly makes its case for being one of the most satisfying medium sized ornamental trees you can grow. This deciduous cultivar reaches 25 to 30 feet in height with a nearly equal spread, forming medium-sized tree with a rounded to oval crown. The flowers are the main event—fully double blooms (some sources describe them as semi-double, suggesting possible variation) in clear pink to deep rose-pink, falling somewhere between the softer 'Peggy Clarke' and the more saturated 'Dawn' on the color spectrum. Each blossom measures 1 to 1.25 inches across and appears on bare branches from late December through March depending on location and weather patterns, providing what one source aptly describes as help to "wipe-out the late winter drearies." The flowers are fragrant, and following the pattern of pink-flowered Prunus mume cultivars, likely carry notes of clove and spice.

The tree's young branches display the characteristic glossy green bark of the species, a subtle but distinctive feature that provides year-round interest. Mature specimens develop bark with cinnamon tints and corky ridges, and here's where 'Bonita' particularly distinguishes itself—this cultivar has a tendency to become gnarled and picturesque with age, developing the kind of sculptural character that makes elderly flowering apricots so prized in Asian gardens and bonsai collections. Summer foliage is standard for the species: simple, ovate leaves 2 to 4 inches long with sharply serrated margins, rich green above and pubescent along the veins beneath. Fall color is pale yellow before leaf drop. Cultivars of this selection are male and do not fruit.

Landscape Value

'Bonita' works beautifully as a specimen tree where its winter blooms and eventual sculptural form can be appreciated, or as part of a mixed border where it provides height and early-season interest. The mature size, 20 to 30 ft., makes it particularly well-suited to residential landscapes, larger courtyards, and gardens where a flowering tree is desired. Site it where you'll actually see and smell it during winter—near frequently used paths, visible from windows, or flanking entryways where its floral display can provide maximum impact during those dark months when every bloom feels like a small miracle.

Hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9 (with zone 6 requiring protected locations), this cultivar performs reliably in full sun to partial shade with moist, acidic, loamy soil. Like all Japanese apricots, it won't tolerate poor drainage or drought conditions. Since it blooms on the previous year's wood with buds set the prior growing season, any pruning should be done immediately after flowering. The tree grows quickly when young—grafted plants can put on as much as 5 feet in a season—though the ultimate sculptural character takes years to develop.

History and Introduction

'Bonita' was named by W.B. Clarke, a highly influential California nurseryman based in San Jose who became one of the most important figures in introducing superior Prunus mume cultivars to American horticulture in the 1940s. Clarke had a gift for spotting exceptional seedlings and selections, and his introductions remain among the most widely grown Japanese apricots in the United States today. He named several cultivars after his daughters, including the popular 'Peggy Clarke' (introduced to commerce in 1941), 'Rosemary Clarke,' and 'Dawn,' establishing a family naming tradition that has made his legacy particularly easy to trace through nursery catalogs. 'Bonita'—Spanish for "pretty"—was also a Clarke introduction, though the exact date and whether it was named for another daughter or simply for its attractive flowers remains unclear in available literature.

The JC Raulston Arboretum, which maintains one of the most extensive collections of Japanese flowering apricots in the United States, includes 'Bonita' in their cultivar collection and notes it as a proven performer in southeastern gardens, reliable into zone 6. This widespread trialing and documentation has helped establish 'Bonita' as one of the more available cultivars, though like all Prunus mume selections, it remains frustratingly rare in mainstream nurseries due to propagation challenges.

Wildlife and Ecological Value

'Bonita' provides critical early-season nectar for bees and other pollinators emerging during warm winter spells when few other food sources are available, making it particularly valuable in wildlife gardens. According to North Carolina State University Extension, Prunus mume serves as a larval host plant for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies (Papilio glaucus), supporting multiple generations from February through November in southern regions and two flights from May through September in northern areas [2]. The small apricot fruits, while too bitter for most human tastes, provide food for birds in summer months. The fragrant flowers—whether you catch the full clove-scented intensity on a cold morning or just a subtle sweetness drifting past—create a sensory experience that reminds you why people have been cultivating these trees for over 1,500 years.

[1] Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, 6th ed., 2009.
[2] https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-mume/

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