Seonamsa Temple is home to approximately 50 Seonammae plum trees, recognized as Natural Monument No. 448 since November 26, 2007. These trees adorn the stone wall walkway extending from Wongtongjeon Hall to Gakhwangjeon Hall, leading toward Unsuam Temple. Notably, two of these trees hold natural monument status: the white plum blossoms behind the wall of Wontongjeon Hall and the red plum blossoms near the wall of Gakhwangjeon Hall.

The plum tree belongs to the rose family and is a small deciduous tree that typically grows to about 5 meters in height. It features green branches with fine hairs and leaves arranged in an alternate pattern. The leaves are either egg-shaped or widely egg-shaped, exhibiting sharp, fine sawtooth edges. Its flowers bloom in April before the leaves emerge, while its fruit, resembling an apricot, starts as a greenish color before turning yellow by July. The plum tree commonly blooms with white flowers, occasionally tinged with pink. Flowers with more than five petals are termed multi-layered plum blossoms.

Moreover, these flowers start blooming in early spring when the cold weather persists, serving as messengers heralding the arrival of spring. They are often likened to the spirit of Seonbi, symbolizing resilience and perseverance in adversity due to their ability to bloom despite the cold weather. Consequently, plum blossoms have been a favorite subject for poetry and painting since ancient times. Additionally, the plum tree is renowned for its medicinal use; its roots, branches, seeds, and fruit are utilized in traditional medicine to alleviate inflammation, treat diarrhea, soothe sorrow, control coughs, and eliminate parasites. The smoked plum, known as “Omea” in Korean, finds application in Asian cuisine and medicine.

According to the Sangryangmun Prayer, here is a record of Daegakguksa Uicheon planting pine trees, called Waryongsong, and plum trees during the reconstruction of Seonamsa Temple in the Goryeo Dynasty. Seonamsa Temple boasts stunning scenery and offers visitors the chance to enjoy the plum blossoms during spring.