"In Japanese, there is a phrase called 松竹梅 (sho-chiku-bai), most often seen when referring to the “tiers” of a dish. The more high-quality (and typically more expensive) it is, the higher “tier” it is. “Sho” (pine) is the lowest tier, while “bai” (another pronunciation for “plum”) is the highest. So, the ume flower is thought to be auspicious and is warmly welcomed to any event or occasion." - [hanakotoba]