About
A small, rounded, dark blue plum, best for culinary use, cropping in late July. It is partially self-fertile, but crops much better with a partner; pollination group 3.
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 typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow plums in a moist, but well-drained soil. An acidic soil (pH 6-6.5) is ideal. Keep a weed-free area of at least 60cm radius around trunk. Thin fruits if necessary. Irrigate in dry periods. Less susceptible to frost damage than many other cultivars
PruningPruning plums; regular pruning required in summer, according to tree form. Plums can be grown as cordons, pyramids, bushes, or as trees
PropagationPropagate by chip budding or grafting on rootstock for fruit
Pest resistancePlums suffer from plum aphid, caterpillars, fruit tree red spider mite, brown scale, plum moth and bullfinches may be problematic
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus