About
A self-fertile, dual-purpose damson, producing white flowers in early spring, followed by a good crop of rounded, blue-black fruit with a white bloom, sharp at first but sweet when fully ripe, and ready to pick in late summer.
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, Clay
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible, Trees
HabitBushy, Spreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
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. Irrigate in dry periods. Fruit thinning may be required. See damson 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 damage by wasps and birds
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus