About
A medium-sized, moderately vigorous tree with drooping branches, dark green, oval leaves and white blossom in spring. Produces large, egg-shaped, dark reddish-purple plums with firm, yellow flesh best suited to cooking, in late summer. A heavy but irregurlar cropper which is self-fertile, in pollination group 4.
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, Partial shade
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeTrees, Fruit Edible
HabitBushy, Pendulous weeping
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a sheltered position in moist, but well-drained soil, ideally with a pH of 6 to 6.5. Best in full sun, but will tolerate some shade. Irrigate in dry periods. Fruit thinning may be required. See plum cultivation
PruningRegular pruning required 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