Plums
Scions are available now for varieties not preceded by an *. If there is an * indicating not available for grafting in 2024, bud sticks should be available from all the plum varieties in late July for chip budding this summer.
(E) = European & (J) = Japanese/Asian
Early Season
Early Golden (J) Description from Adams County Nursery: "A high-quality, early-season plum with an attractive red blush over golden yellow ground color, maturing 10 to 14 days before Shiro. Fruit is very sweet, small to medium in size. Trees are hardy, vigorous and productive."
Laxton Early (E) “The Early Laxton plum tree is a tasty European heirloom plum with refreshing flavor. Bright pinkish orange fruit dotted with rose and violet. The Early Laxton plums are juicy, sweet, freestone, and high in vitamin C. A heavy bearer, the Early Laxton plum must be thinned to avoid weighted branches.” From Trees of Antiquity description
Methley (J) Description from Stark Brothers Nursery: “A heavy bearer . . . disease-resistant . . Originates in South Africa, introduced to America in 1922.” Description from Raintree Nursery notes: “Methley is great eaten fresh and makes great jelly. It can be made into leather, and it makes a great sorbet.” Noted for being very cold hardy and easy to grow.
Parsons (E) Description from One Green World Nursery: “A unique, attractive, and very productive European variety, Parsons was one of the mainstays of Oregon’s prune industry. Parsons is prized for its very large, dark blue, sweet fruit and its semi-weeping form.”
Obilanja (J) This worldly Russian-bred plum, a hardy cross between Asian and Myrobalan plums, comes from Yalta on the Black Sea. This partially self-fertile tree produces a heavy crop of medium size, firm, red plums with excellent flavor, yellow/pink flesh and very small pits. Description from Raintree Nursery
Opal (E) Opal is one of the first European plums to ripen, coming on July! Enjoy heavy crops of small to medium size reddish purple roundish plums with a delicious gage flavor. Opal is self fertile and easy to grow, hence it is very popular in England. Description from Raintree Nursery
*Oullins (E) Reine Claude de Oullins plums are highly esteemed golden gage plums. The original tree was discovered by chance during the 1850's in Coligny, near Lyons, so there is no record of its parents. The first man to sell the tree commercially was Monsieur Massot, who decided to name it after his home town of Oullins. Reine Claude de Oullins plum tree produces a flavor that is exceptionally sweet, tender and succulent. Almost cylindrical, green fruit turns white and pale gold with a fine white blush when mature. Does better in cooler climates than most gage plums. From Trees of Antiquity
*Rosy Gage (E) Description from New York Fruit Quarterly 14.1 (2006): "This Cornell-Geneva selection has just been released under this trademarked name. This green-yellow plum has exceptionally high sugar content and flavor. It ripens just after Oullins and has more pink/rosy colored blush in most seasons. The tree crops very heavily and retains high quality with large fruit loads.
Mid Season
Bavay’s Gage (E) Bavay's Green Gage plum trees are one of the best of the gages, or old European plums, this is still considered the ideal dessert plum in Europe. A seedling of Reine Claude produced by Major Esperen, Mechlin, Belgium in 1832. Not to be confused with Asian plum called "Green Gage". Bavay's Green Gage plum trees produce a meaty flesh with a rich gage flavor and incredible candy-like sweetness. Juicy, smooth-textured amber flesh is also delicious cooked, canned or preserved. From Trees of Antiquity
Beauty (J) Raintree Nursery provides the follow description: "Beauty is one of the richest-flavored Japanese plums; a wonderful blend of sweet and tart that melts in your mouth. The tree is fast growing and extremely productive, bearing bright red, medium-sized fruit with amber-streaked, red flesh. This was one of developer Luther Burbank's favorites of his plum varieties, and was introduced in 1911.
The fruit is reminiscent of Santa Rosa, but much better suited to cool weather growers. Beauty starts producing at an early age, sometimes the year after planting! Self fertile in most regions, and a good pollinizer for other Asian plums. Low chill; only needing 250 hours to reliably set fruit."
Black Ice (J) Fedco provides the following description: "Prunus spp. Midsummer. P. Lydecker [Prunus besseyi x (P. salicina Oka x P. s. Z’s Blue Giant)] University of Wisconsin, River Falls, 2006. Large 2" round early-ripening high-quality hardy blue-black dessert plum. Very sweet juicy reddish-purple semi-freestone flesh. Precocious and productive tree with a naturally compact growth habit.
Bred by Brian Smith, whom we visited on a fruit exploration trip in the Upper Midwest. He graciously toured us through his amazing nursery in River Falls, Wisconsin. He was growing many of his plums in huge tubs, manipulating bloom time using greenhouses and coolers. This enabled him to cross species or varieties that would never normally flower together."
*De Montfort (E) One Green World provides the following description: "A classic and unique European variety, De Montfort is prized for its sweet, purplish blue, very flavorful fruit. Covering the tree in late summer, these delectable Plums are great for fresh eating and drying."
Castleton (E) Orange Pippin provides the following description: “Castleton is a modern dual-purpose early-season plum. It was developed for the New York commercial plum-growing market, and these qualities also make it a good choice for the backyard orchard. Castleton can be eaten fresh when fully ripe or used in the kitchen if picked slightly earlier. It is a freestone plum - the stone falls away from the flesh easily.” It ripens a month before Empress and 3 weeks before Stanley. Free stone so it can be dried.
Geneva Mirabelle (E) Earlier and more productive than American Mirabelle. Used in making jam and compote (whole individual fruit canned in heavy syrup), for fruit wine. Separates from pit so it can also be dried.
Green Gage (E) “Ancient Armenian variety still widely grown due to its outstanding flavor. Medium sized, round greenish yellow fruits that are great for dessert, canning, sauce or preserves. Green Gage Plum is productive & self-fertile.” Description from Burnt Ridge Nursery
Luisa (J) Not readily available from any nursery yet. Very large, very sweet and very juicy. In addition to being among my top three favorites (out of 48 varieties that I grow), it also cans well (like an apricot). I also like this one dried. Keeps well in the refrigerator from early September to the middle of October (very unusual for a Japanese plum).
Imperial Epineuse (E) Imperial Epineuse prune plum tree was brought to us from Clairac, the great prune district of France. The Imperial plum was eventually introduced in the States by Felix Gillett of Nevada City, CA in 1883. The Imperial prune plum tree produces large, delicious prunes which can be dried without the lye dip required for other varieties. Imperial prunes are also great eating fresh out of hand. The Imperial prune tree requires a pollinizer. Description from Trees of Antiquity Nursery
Italian (E) “Large purple fruit, yellow flesh, sweet free stone, dries well. Italian plums are very productive. Self-fertile’ Description from Burnt Ridge Nursery
Monsieur Hatif (E) Raintree Nursery provides this description: Monsieur Hatif de Montmorency is an excellent culinary European plum. It is a roundish medium size freestone purple plum with golden yellow flesh that ripens in August. It is also known as Early Orleans. It is an old variety brought from France to England and on to the U.S.
Mount Royal (E) The medium size, round, blue plums with yellow flesh are excellent for fresh eating, canning, drying or freezing. Mount Royal is a self-fertile tree, developed in Quebec prior to 1903. Easily one of the hardiest and most widely adapted of the tested European plums. Mount Royal bears a heavy annual crop. Description from Raintree Nursery
Opal Orange Pippin provides the following description: "Opal is probably the best-flavoured early plum variety - indeed it is sometimes called a gage-like plum thanks to the excellence of its flavour. It demonstrates (along with Ariel) that crossing a gage with plum can improve the gage-like flavour.However the flavour depends crucially on developing sugars during the short growing period, and in the UK and northern Europe Opal really benefits from being grown against a south-facing wall or in a sunny aspect. In less favourable situations it will still give good crops but the flavour may be bland.
The fruit is medium-sized, coloured dusky red with a heavy bloom, becoming blue when overripe. The fruit is at its best just before the colour changes to blue. The plums ripen over a period of about 1-2 weeks, so you don't have to deal with a glut. The flesh is straw-yellow and fairly juicy. Opal is a free-stone plum - the stone falls away easily from the flesh. If picked on a warm July day and placed in a fruit bowl Opal also has a wonderful aroma.
Recommended because it is easy to grow in a variety of climates and provides good quality plums early in the season - but to get the full flavour it is essential to thin the crop, and to plant in a sunny aspect."
Shiro (J) “Shiro plum tree bears a medium round, yellow fruit with a pink blush. The Shiro plum has juicy, translucent flesh with a mild, sweet flavor. Shiro plums are excellent for fresh eating, cooking, canning and dessert. Shiro plums are medium-sized clingstone fruits with bright yellow skin and crisp yellow flesh.” From Trees of Antiquity description
Sugar (E) “A very sweet and richly flavored prune plum suitable for fresh eating, drying and canning.” From Burnt Ridge Nursery description “A seedling of the French Frune (Petite d’Agen) grown by Luther Burbank. The fruit is very large, twice the size of French Prunes, dark purple, with thick white bloom; flesh yellow, tender, sugary. Superior to French Prune also in growth, form and productiveness of tree. August.” From Vineland Nurseries (Clarkston, Wa) 1912 catalog
Toka (J) "Toka Plum, also known as Bubblegum Plum, produces very sweet, and juicy reddish bronze colored plums with a yellow flesh. This plum originated in South Dakota in the early 1900s and is said to withstand temperature as low as -50º degrees F." From One Green world description
Valor (E) Cummins Nursery describes it as: “much larger and much better flavor (than Italian Prune). Freestone when ripe (which means you can dry it and can it).” Fedco Nursery notes that it is productive and cold hardy. Description from AK Pioneer Fruit Growers Association
*Victory (E) Mehrabyan Nursery describes it as: "The Victory Plum is a cross between Vision and Valor. The fruit is hart-shaped and large. The skin has violet blue color. The fruit is firm, sweet, and juicy with greenish-yellow flesh and good flavor. The fruit is maturing five days after Stanley. The tree is very productive."
Yakima (E) Among the hardiest of all European plums. Tree has upright growth habit and is vigorous. Needs another European plum nearby for cross pollination. Fruits very large, pinkish-violet skin, amber flesh, very tasty and somewhat aromatic. Description from Raintree Nursery
Late Season
*Coe's Golden Drop (E) Coes Golden Drop plum tree is intensely sweet plum with a flavor reminiscent of apricot. Jervaise Coe of Suffolk England raised the Coe's Golden Drop from a seed in 1809. Andy Mariani of Andy's Orchard describes Coes Golden Drop plums as "a veritable bag of sweet nectar when fully ripe". The famous epicure Edward Bunyard suggested that "at its ripest it is drunk rather than eaten". The Coe's Golden Drop plum tree produces fruit that's a real juice-oozer; one of the historic European dessert plums. From Trees of Antiquity
Gras Romanesc (E) The distinctive blue skin blushed with grey, and the sweet, rich, yellow, clingstone flesh of the revered German plum selection, also called Heerehausen, has been popular since the late 19th century. Late ripener and good keeper, with the sugars intensifying during storage. Description by Raintree Nursery.
Kirk’s Blue (E) Raintree Nursery describes it as: Introduced by Joseph Kirke of London in 1830, this large, round, dark blue plum is still the finest flavored of all. Each August, trees at the Wisley Royal Horticultural gardens produce incomparable freestone fruit with yellow, drippingly juicy flesh and fantastic flavor.This particular variety will flourish in dry spring regions that enjoy solid summer heat. Partially self fertile in many locations, and larger yields of this fabulous fruit with a pollinizing partner.
Moyer (E) 'Moyer European plums, this outstanding and classic variety bears abundant crops of very large fruit. Sweet and delicious. Moyer is great for fresh eating and drying.” Description from One Green World Nursery
*President (E) "The President plum is a late ripening fruit that is a large, round to oblong fruit with blue-black skin. Flesh is fine-textured and yellow. It is a vigorous, upright tree that is a heavy producer. It is one of the last plums to ripen in the season." From Grandpa's Orchard Nursery
Prune D’ Agen (E) “Traditionally the French plum was dried and kept over a long period of time when refrigerators did not exist and winter meant months with few fruits or vegetables. Prunes were almost as precious as salt and were used to Louis Pellier, brothers who went to California for the Gold Rush, started a nursery business near San Jose in 1856 with bargain wages during the 15th century. The French Prune tree was introduced to the States by Pierre and plum cuttings they brought from France. Today the French prune plum tree are sought by connoisseurs around the world. The French prune has a very sweet, rich flavor with tender, fine-textured flesh. Medium-sized prune plum of red to violet purple skin over amber flesh. Delicious for eating fresh, baking, chutneys, and drying. Long-lived and self-fertile.” From Trees of Antiquity description “The well-known variety so extensively planted for drying; medium size; reddish purple; juicy, sugary, rich and sweet; bears immense crops. September.” August.” From Vineland Nurseries (Clarkston, WA) 1912 catalog
Empress (E) Cummins Nursery describes it as “Very large, high quality, dark blue fruit. Ripens late in the season. Productive. Express has been consistently productive after late spring frosts.”
Shropshire Damson (E) One Green World provides this description: “A unique and delightful European variety. Shropshire Damson is prized for its abundant crops of richly flavorful, attractive, juicy, blue-black fruit. Shropshire Damson fruit is great for fresh eating, preserves and canning.
Vision (E) Cummins Nursery describes it as: “Superior taste and flavor. Very productive. Large to very large; purple with golden-yellow flesh.”
Comments on Propagation of Plums
VARIETIES
Spread out your plum crop by selecting early, mid, and late season varieties. Include both European (richer complex flavor) and Japanese plums (juicy and sweet). Include some freestones so that you can dry some of them. Also include ones for jam and canning.
ROOTSTOCKS
You have several rootstock options for plums. Myrobalan and Myrobalan 29C rootstock give you a full-sized tree. Marianna 26-24 gives you a semi-dwarf tree, while Krymsk 1 and St. Julian A, both very winter hardy, give you a little smaller semi-dwarf size, plus earlier bearing. Summer pruning can also manage tree size. Rootstocks for plums are available from Raintree Nursery, Burnt Ridge Nursery, and One Green World, all located here in the Northwest.
TOPWORKING
Your existing plum trees can be topworked (grafting procedure) to add additional varieties. Because there are so many fall varieties that are an improvement over the Italian and Stanley (the plums you probably already have), these trees could be among those you topwork with improved varieties. See websites listed below under Summer Chip Budding for information on the procedures for topworking and details on an upcoming topworking class.
SUMMER CHIP BUDDING
In late July bud wood for summer chip budding is expected to be available for all of the above varieties. Check after July 1st on http://thefruithouse.weebly.com and http://mercyacres.com for dates for summer chip budding class and dates to pick up bud sticks.
Scions are available now for varieties not preceded by an *. If there is an * indicating not available for grafting in 2024, bud sticks should be available from all the plum varieties in late July for chip budding this summer.
(E) = European & (J) = Japanese/Asian
Early Season
Early Golden (J) Description from Adams County Nursery: "A high-quality, early-season plum with an attractive red blush over golden yellow ground color, maturing 10 to 14 days before Shiro. Fruit is very sweet, small to medium in size. Trees are hardy, vigorous and productive."
Laxton Early (E) “The Early Laxton plum tree is a tasty European heirloom plum with refreshing flavor. Bright pinkish orange fruit dotted with rose and violet. The Early Laxton plums are juicy, sweet, freestone, and high in vitamin C. A heavy bearer, the Early Laxton plum must be thinned to avoid weighted branches.” From Trees of Antiquity description
Methley (J) Description from Stark Brothers Nursery: “A heavy bearer . . . disease-resistant . . Originates in South Africa, introduced to America in 1922.” Description from Raintree Nursery notes: “Methley is great eaten fresh and makes great jelly. It can be made into leather, and it makes a great sorbet.” Noted for being very cold hardy and easy to grow.
Parsons (E) Description from One Green World Nursery: “A unique, attractive, and very productive European variety, Parsons was one of the mainstays of Oregon’s prune industry. Parsons is prized for its very large, dark blue, sweet fruit and its semi-weeping form.”
Obilanja (J) This worldly Russian-bred plum, a hardy cross between Asian and Myrobalan plums, comes from Yalta on the Black Sea. This partially self-fertile tree produces a heavy crop of medium size, firm, red plums with excellent flavor, yellow/pink flesh and very small pits. Description from Raintree Nursery
Opal (E) Opal is one of the first European plums to ripen, coming on July! Enjoy heavy crops of small to medium size reddish purple roundish plums with a delicious gage flavor. Opal is self fertile and easy to grow, hence it is very popular in England. Description from Raintree Nursery
*Oullins (E) Reine Claude de Oullins plums are highly esteemed golden gage plums. The original tree was discovered by chance during the 1850's in Coligny, near Lyons, so there is no record of its parents. The first man to sell the tree commercially was Monsieur Massot, who decided to name it after his home town of Oullins. Reine Claude de Oullins plum tree produces a flavor that is exceptionally sweet, tender and succulent. Almost cylindrical, green fruit turns white and pale gold with a fine white blush when mature. Does better in cooler climates than most gage plums. From Trees of Antiquity
*Rosy Gage (E) Description from New York Fruit Quarterly 14.1 (2006): "This Cornell-Geneva selection has just been released under this trademarked name. This green-yellow plum has exceptionally high sugar content and flavor. It ripens just after Oullins and has more pink/rosy colored blush in most seasons. The tree crops very heavily and retains high quality with large fruit loads.
Mid Season
Bavay’s Gage (E) Bavay's Green Gage plum trees are one of the best of the gages, or old European plums, this is still considered the ideal dessert plum in Europe. A seedling of Reine Claude produced by Major Esperen, Mechlin, Belgium in 1832. Not to be confused with Asian plum called "Green Gage". Bavay's Green Gage plum trees produce a meaty flesh with a rich gage flavor and incredible candy-like sweetness. Juicy, smooth-textured amber flesh is also delicious cooked, canned or preserved. From Trees of Antiquity
Beauty (J) Raintree Nursery provides the follow description: "Beauty is one of the richest-flavored Japanese plums; a wonderful blend of sweet and tart that melts in your mouth. The tree is fast growing and extremely productive, bearing bright red, medium-sized fruit with amber-streaked, red flesh. This was one of developer Luther Burbank's favorites of his plum varieties, and was introduced in 1911.
The fruit is reminiscent of Santa Rosa, but much better suited to cool weather growers. Beauty starts producing at an early age, sometimes the year after planting! Self fertile in most regions, and a good pollinizer for other Asian plums. Low chill; only needing 250 hours to reliably set fruit."
Black Ice (J) Fedco provides the following description: "Prunus spp. Midsummer. P. Lydecker [Prunus besseyi x (P. salicina Oka x P. s. Z’s Blue Giant)] University of Wisconsin, River Falls, 2006. Large 2" round early-ripening high-quality hardy blue-black dessert plum. Very sweet juicy reddish-purple semi-freestone flesh. Precocious and productive tree with a naturally compact growth habit.
Bred by Brian Smith, whom we visited on a fruit exploration trip in the Upper Midwest. He graciously toured us through his amazing nursery in River Falls, Wisconsin. He was growing many of his plums in huge tubs, manipulating bloom time using greenhouses and coolers. This enabled him to cross species or varieties that would never normally flower together."
*De Montfort (E) One Green World provides the following description: "A classic and unique European variety, De Montfort is prized for its sweet, purplish blue, very flavorful fruit. Covering the tree in late summer, these delectable Plums are great for fresh eating and drying."
Castleton (E) Orange Pippin provides the following description: “Castleton is a modern dual-purpose early-season plum. It was developed for the New York commercial plum-growing market, and these qualities also make it a good choice for the backyard orchard. Castleton can be eaten fresh when fully ripe or used in the kitchen if picked slightly earlier. It is a freestone plum - the stone falls away from the flesh easily.” It ripens a month before Empress and 3 weeks before Stanley. Free stone so it can be dried.
Geneva Mirabelle (E) Earlier and more productive than American Mirabelle. Used in making jam and compote (whole individual fruit canned in heavy syrup), for fruit wine. Separates from pit so it can also be dried.
Green Gage (E) “Ancient Armenian variety still widely grown due to its outstanding flavor. Medium sized, round greenish yellow fruits that are great for dessert, canning, sauce or preserves. Green Gage Plum is productive & self-fertile.” Description from Burnt Ridge Nursery
Luisa (J) Not readily available from any nursery yet. Very large, very sweet and very juicy. In addition to being among my top three favorites (out of 48 varieties that I grow), it also cans well (like an apricot). I also like this one dried. Keeps well in the refrigerator from early September to the middle of October (very unusual for a Japanese plum).
Imperial Epineuse (E) Imperial Epineuse prune plum tree was brought to us from Clairac, the great prune district of France. The Imperial plum was eventually introduced in the States by Felix Gillett of Nevada City, CA in 1883. The Imperial prune plum tree produces large, delicious prunes which can be dried without the lye dip required for other varieties. Imperial prunes are also great eating fresh out of hand. The Imperial prune tree requires a pollinizer. Description from Trees of Antiquity Nursery
Italian (E) “Large purple fruit, yellow flesh, sweet free stone, dries well. Italian plums are very productive. Self-fertile’ Description from Burnt Ridge Nursery
Monsieur Hatif (E) Raintree Nursery provides this description: Monsieur Hatif de Montmorency is an excellent culinary European plum. It is a roundish medium size freestone purple plum with golden yellow flesh that ripens in August. It is also known as Early Orleans. It is an old variety brought from France to England and on to the U.S.
Mount Royal (E) The medium size, round, blue plums with yellow flesh are excellent for fresh eating, canning, drying or freezing. Mount Royal is a self-fertile tree, developed in Quebec prior to 1903. Easily one of the hardiest and most widely adapted of the tested European plums. Mount Royal bears a heavy annual crop. Description from Raintree Nursery
Opal Orange Pippin provides the following description: "Opal is probably the best-flavoured early plum variety - indeed it is sometimes called a gage-like plum thanks to the excellence of its flavour. It demonstrates (along with Ariel) that crossing a gage with plum can improve the gage-like flavour.However the flavour depends crucially on developing sugars during the short growing period, and in the UK and northern Europe Opal really benefits from being grown against a south-facing wall or in a sunny aspect. In less favourable situations it will still give good crops but the flavour may be bland.
The fruit is medium-sized, coloured dusky red with a heavy bloom, becoming blue when overripe. The fruit is at its best just before the colour changes to blue. The plums ripen over a period of about 1-2 weeks, so you don't have to deal with a glut. The flesh is straw-yellow and fairly juicy. Opal is a free-stone plum - the stone falls away easily from the flesh. If picked on a warm July day and placed in a fruit bowl Opal also has a wonderful aroma.
Recommended because it is easy to grow in a variety of climates and provides good quality plums early in the season - but to get the full flavour it is essential to thin the crop, and to plant in a sunny aspect."
Shiro (J) “Shiro plum tree bears a medium round, yellow fruit with a pink blush. The Shiro plum has juicy, translucent flesh with a mild, sweet flavor. Shiro plums are excellent for fresh eating, cooking, canning and dessert. Shiro plums are medium-sized clingstone fruits with bright yellow skin and crisp yellow flesh.” From Trees of Antiquity description
Sugar (E) “A very sweet and richly flavored prune plum suitable for fresh eating, drying and canning.” From Burnt Ridge Nursery description “A seedling of the French Frune (Petite d’Agen) grown by Luther Burbank. The fruit is very large, twice the size of French Prunes, dark purple, with thick white bloom; flesh yellow, tender, sugary. Superior to French Prune also in growth, form and productiveness of tree. August.” From Vineland Nurseries (Clarkston, Wa) 1912 catalog
Toka (J) "Toka Plum, also known as Bubblegum Plum, produces very sweet, and juicy reddish bronze colored plums with a yellow flesh. This plum originated in South Dakota in the early 1900s and is said to withstand temperature as low as -50º degrees F." From One Green world description
Valor (E) Cummins Nursery describes it as: “much larger and much better flavor (than Italian Prune). Freestone when ripe (which means you can dry it and can it).” Fedco Nursery notes that it is productive and cold hardy. Description from AK Pioneer Fruit Growers Association
*Victory (E) Mehrabyan Nursery describes it as: "The Victory Plum is a cross between Vision and Valor. The fruit is hart-shaped and large. The skin has violet blue color. The fruit is firm, sweet, and juicy with greenish-yellow flesh and good flavor. The fruit is maturing five days after Stanley. The tree is very productive."
Yakima (E) Among the hardiest of all European plums. Tree has upright growth habit and is vigorous. Needs another European plum nearby for cross pollination. Fruits very large, pinkish-violet skin, amber flesh, very tasty and somewhat aromatic. Description from Raintree Nursery
Late Season
*Coe's Golden Drop (E) Coes Golden Drop plum tree is intensely sweet plum with a flavor reminiscent of apricot. Jervaise Coe of Suffolk England raised the Coe's Golden Drop from a seed in 1809. Andy Mariani of Andy's Orchard describes Coes Golden Drop plums as "a veritable bag of sweet nectar when fully ripe". The famous epicure Edward Bunyard suggested that "at its ripest it is drunk rather than eaten". The Coe's Golden Drop plum tree produces fruit that's a real juice-oozer; one of the historic European dessert plums. From Trees of Antiquity
Gras Romanesc (E) The distinctive blue skin blushed with grey, and the sweet, rich, yellow, clingstone flesh of the revered German plum selection, also called Heerehausen, has been popular since the late 19th century. Late ripener and good keeper, with the sugars intensifying during storage. Description by Raintree Nursery.
Kirk’s Blue (E) Raintree Nursery describes it as: Introduced by Joseph Kirke of London in 1830, this large, round, dark blue plum is still the finest flavored of all. Each August, trees at the Wisley Royal Horticultural gardens produce incomparable freestone fruit with yellow, drippingly juicy flesh and fantastic flavor.This particular variety will flourish in dry spring regions that enjoy solid summer heat. Partially self fertile in many locations, and larger yields of this fabulous fruit with a pollinizing partner.
Moyer (E) 'Moyer European plums, this outstanding and classic variety bears abundant crops of very large fruit. Sweet and delicious. Moyer is great for fresh eating and drying.” Description from One Green World Nursery
*President (E) "The President plum is a late ripening fruit that is a large, round to oblong fruit with blue-black skin. Flesh is fine-textured and yellow. It is a vigorous, upright tree that is a heavy producer. It is one of the last plums to ripen in the season." From Grandpa's Orchard Nursery
Prune D’ Agen (E) “Traditionally the French plum was dried and kept over a long period of time when refrigerators did not exist and winter meant months with few fruits or vegetables. Prunes were almost as precious as salt and were used to Louis Pellier, brothers who went to California for the Gold Rush, started a nursery business near San Jose in 1856 with bargain wages during the 15th century. The French Prune tree was introduced to the States by Pierre and plum cuttings they brought from France. Today the French prune plum tree are sought by connoisseurs around the world. The French prune has a very sweet, rich flavor with tender, fine-textured flesh. Medium-sized prune plum of red to violet purple skin over amber flesh. Delicious for eating fresh, baking, chutneys, and drying. Long-lived and self-fertile.” From Trees of Antiquity description “The well-known variety so extensively planted for drying; medium size; reddish purple; juicy, sugary, rich and sweet; bears immense crops. September.” August.” From Vineland Nurseries (Clarkston, WA) 1912 catalog
Empress (E) Cummins Nursery describes it as “Very large, high quality, dark blue fruit. Ripens late in the season. Productive. Express has been consistently productive after late spring frosts.”
Shropshire Damson (E) One Green World provides this description: “A unique and delightful European variety. Shropshire Damson is prized for its abundant crops of richly flavorful, attractive, juicy, blue-black fruit. Shropshire Damson fruit is great for fresh eating, preserves and canning.
Vision (E) Cummins Nursery describes it as: “Superior taste and flavor. Very productive. Large to very large; purple with golden-yellow flesh.”
Comments on Propagation of Plums
VARIETIES
Spread out your plum crop by selecting early, mid, and late season varieties. Include both European (richer complex flavor) and Japanese plums (juicy and sweet). Include some freestones so that you can dry some of them. Also include ones for jam and canning.
ROOTSTOCKS
You have several rootstock options for plums. Myrobalan and Myrobalan 29C rootstock give you a full-sized tree. Marianna 26-24 gives you a semi-dwarf tree, while Krymsk 1 and St. Julian A, both very winter hardy, give you a little smaller semi-dwarf size, plus earlier bearing. Summer pruning can also manage tree size. Rootstocks for plums are available from Raintree Nursery, Burnt Ridge Nursery, and One Green World, all located here in the Northwest.
TOPWORKING
Your existing plum trees can be topworked (grafting procedure) to add additional varieties. Because there are so many fall varieties that are an improvement over the Italian and Stanley (the plums you probably already have), these trees could be among those you topwork with improved varieties. See websites listed below under Summer Chip Budding for information on the procedures for topworking and details on an upcoming topworking class.
SUMMER CHIP BUDDING
In late July bud wood for summer chip budding is expected to be available for all of the above varieties. Check after July 1st on http://thefruithouse.weebly.com and http://mercyacres.com for dates for summer chip budding class and dates to pick up bud sticks.