Forest & Kim Starr
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Prunus domestica
Plant Common Name
Plum, Prune Plum
General Description
The European plum is a great stone fruit for the home gardener. It has been cultivated for centuries but originates from western Asia and near the Caucasus Mountains. The earliest trees were brought to the United States with colonists; Spanish missionaries on the west coast and the English on the east coast. Today, commercial orchards exist across temperate regions worldwide. Most North America production orchards are in the Central Valley of California.
The small to medium-sized tree is deciduous and has a rounded, somewhat sparse canopy lined with oval leaves. The spring flowers are typically fragrant, white and five-petaled. About half the known varieties require compatible trees nearby for cross-pollination and subsequent fruit set. The rest are self-fruitful but still produce more abundantly if another compatible variety is nearby. The smooth-skinned stone fruits (technically called “drupes”) can mature from summer to fall, depending on the location and variety. They have a waxy bloom on the surface and may be purple, red, yellow, or green. Their flesh is tart, sweet and juicy and the fruits ideal for cooking, canning, drying or eating fresh.
Plum fruits are categorized into four groups; the greengage type, which is round with green or golden colored fruits that are great for canning and the fresh market. Yellow egg types are large, yellow and used for canning. Lombard types are oval with red or pinkish rose skin and are typically sold fresh. Finally, prune types are freestone plums with oval, dark blue or purple skin and are best eaten dried.
European plum trees require full sun and are tolerant of nearly all soil types as long as they offer good drainage and moderate fertility. They are hardy and bear flowers and fruit on older wood. This means they are best pruned annually in summer to optimize fruit output. Suckers and unwanted old wood can be removed when the trees are dormant. These trees are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, such as powdery mildew, bacterial spot and plum pox virus. Resistant cultivars, or those grafted onto vigorous, resistant rootstock, are available
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 3
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 8
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Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
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Plant Type
Fruit
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
15'-18' / 4.6m - 5.5m
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Width
0'-8' / 0.0m - 2.4m
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Bloom Time
Spring
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Native To
Hybrid Origin, Western Asia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
No
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
