No actually these flowers still have some comparatively big and rounded petals. Although there does seem to be fewer petals, with a few gaps. Maybe next year you will see the twinkly flowers, with small, pointy petals and asymmetric outlines. If that conversion does occur you might think about using the space for something else.

Under-sized looking flowers (and spiny branches, apparently) are actually normal for the species, may often be presented by seed-raised stock. The less ferocious, more conspicuously flowered named forms are the result of horticultural selection and improvement.

Thanks! Would you happen to have a photo of the "twinkly" flowers? On the one hand, I don't mind waiting as the tree is quite easy-going. On the other, I'd feel bad asking the nursery for a refund / exchange after two full growing seasons even if it took that long to display fully deformed flowers and the winter flowers are the biggest reason to grow the plant. Are there any cultivars you have grown that have done quite well for you here in the PNW?

I'd expect that if a web search for the cultivar was done pictures of the small flowered version would pop up.

I'd look for stock that wasn't either

- Raised from seed

- Grafted

Unless a seedling was being presented that had developed to the point of flowering, showing it had appealing flowers. And didn't look to be apt to become too spiny.

I've gotten the best show from 'Peggy Clarke'. But both specimens in both locations are now dead, due in one case in particular quite apparently to delayed graft incompatibility. Too bad, too, because before then the scion grew like a weed, was wonderful in flower. It was also rather fruitful.

To end up with a particular named form like this in a lasting condition you may have to buy a grafted plant, read about trying to grow this species from cuttings and work at that until you get a satisfactory outcome. Then replace the grafted original with the rooted cutting.

Delayed graft incompatibility may be why you don't see these around much, despite one local garden center or another stocking them here much of the time, for many years. Also some years they get brown rot, with removals perhaps being the result. Even though they seem to bounce back rapidly, unlike the much more prevalent Higan cherries.

I wouldn't ask for the photos of the twinkly flowers if I had been able to find them on Google :). You're definitely correct about needing a specimen on its own roots. The Myro rootstock sent up suckers all summer and the tree was only in its first year!

For anyone that is interested in the species, I've found a few places that seem reliable to purchase different varieties of Mume:

Camellia Forest Nursery in NC

Evergreen Gardenworks (great selection, but they are selling them primarily for Bonsai and so they are largely young rooted cuttings).

Raintree Nursery in WA also sells 2-4 varieties of Prunus Mume each year, with a couple of those varieties being advertised as on their own roots.