About
Merryweather Damson' is a vigorous, spreading tree with relatively large, blue-black fruits that can be used fresh when fully ripe in late summer, though are normally used for cooking. It is self-fertile and in 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 typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a moist, but well-drained soil in full sun. Keep a weed-free area of at least 60cm radius around trunk. Thin fruit if necessary. Irrigate in dry periods
PruningRegular pruning required for pruning established fans, but pruning plums grown as bushes is not so intensive
PropagationPropagate by chip budding or grafting on rootstock for fruit
Pest resistanceCan suffer from damage by plum aphid, caterpillars, fruit tree red spider mite, brown scale and plum moth maggots
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to bacterial canker and brown rot; this cultivar show resistance to silver leaf