Your Wash. location seems ideal, however. I believe there are varieties of prunus mume that are more for ornamental purposes and others better for fruiting, so make sure you get an appropriate species. I've heard ume is good for one's circulation, but I doubt it's a magic plant in that regard. I'd expect analysis would show the fruit to have a flavonoid profile typical of many other dark-skinned fruits, which would indeed make it good for circulatory health, but so are blueberries, bilberries, western plums, cherries, cranberries, etc.
Good luck, I'd definately try to grow one in your area.
Acidic soil is good.
Jim

I can't answer your question, just wanted to say "Hey!"

(I'm in Discovery Bay, about 15 miles east of you.)

(waving)

If you can find white flower and single petal flower , most likely it will produce fruit. If you grow right, 6th year, you will have some fruits.(from seedling) If you know how to graft.
For fruits production, You should prune almost same as peach.

Many mail order nuseries carry prunus mume. make it sure that you don't buy duble flower plume tree. Most likely duble flwoer won't produce any fruit.
yama

My aging dad really misses the "winter plum" or Japanese apricot (prunus mume, or prunus mei). It's the national flower of the Republic of China and he's really got his heart set on seeing it bloom in summer. Any suggestions for where to get this and which cultivars have white (tending to yellow) single flowers? I'm looking for the winter plum of Chinese classical painting--please help!

also, is Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. the right cultivar?

Bungo are thought to be hybrids between P. mume and P. armeniaca.