About
A small, twiggy, deciduous tree generally with arching or drooping branches. It has white blossom in early spring followed in late summer or early autumn by plum fruits with golden or greenish-yellow flesh and black, blue, purple, red or yellow skin. Many cultivated varieties of plum have been developed from this species.
About the genus
Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible, Trees
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Wildlife gardens
Native toTranscaucasus to N Iran
Care notes
CultivationGrow in full sun in a sheltered position in moist, but well-drained soil, ideally with a pH of 6 to 6.5. Suitable for fan training. Irrigate in dry periods. Fruit thinning may be required
PruningBenefits from regular pruning according to tree form, see pruning plums or pruning established fans
PropagationPropagate by chip budding or grafting. Trees grown from stones will not resemble the parent
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to plum aphid, caterpillars, fruit tree red spider mite, brown scale, plum moth and bullfinches
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus. High Risk Host for Xylella fastidiosa