Plum
Blue Damson
European plum. Small round, blue fruits in clusters. Very tart, green, freestone flesh. Excellent for jams, jellies, and preserves. Vigorous heavy producer, a little larger than most plum trees. Widely adapted. Self fruitful. Ripens from late August to late September depending on location. 650-800 chill hours. Hardy to central Iowa. Zones 4-9. Originated prior to the 1st century B.C. near Damascus, Syria.
Burbank
Japanese Plum large purplish red fruit. Sweet, meaty, amber yellow, clingstone flesh. Excellent flavor. Best when picked before fully ripe. Excellent for eating fresh and canning. Low growing, flat topped, somewhat drooping tree. Bears early and sets heavily. Widely adapted. Good for commercial production and shipping. Ripens in early august in Michigan., Mid July in the west. 400 chill hours. Zones 5-9. Developed by Luther Burbank of Santa Rosa, California
Green Gage
European plum. Famous Reine Claude, named after the wife of Francis I of France. Imported into England in the 18th Century by Sir Thomas Gage who provided its English Name. An American favorite since the time of Jefferson. Small to medium oval yellowish green fruit. Juicy smooth textured, amber freestone flesh. Rich, confectionary flavor. Considered the ideal dessert plum in Europe. Also good cooked, canned, or preserved. Typically a rather small, low branched, round headed tree with attractive blossoms and deep green foliage. Productive. Self Fertile. Susceptible to brown rot. 400-800 chill hours. Hardy to central Iowa
Italian Prune
European prune plum Medium to large, oval, purplish black fruit. Juicy, greenish yellow, freestone flesh turns red when cooked. Distinctive, rich, sweet flavor. Good for both canning and drying. Vigorous, cold hardy tree. Early reliable producer. Sometimes overbears and needs to be thinned. Self Fruitful but production improved with pollination from another European variety. Excellent shipper. Ripens from August to September. 800 chill hours. Zones 4-9.
Santa Rosa
Japanese plum. Very large, round to round oval, purplish red fruit covered with light dots and thin bloom. Fragrant, fine textured, clingstone flesh, purplish near the skin yellow streaked pink near the pit. Highest quality. Excellent fresh or canned. Large, vigorous, fast growing tree. Prolific annual bearer in the West, but shy under eastern conditions. Partially self fertile, but production improved when planted with other Japanese varieties. Susceptible to bacterial spot. Keeps and ships well. Ripens midseason. 300-500 chill hours. Zones 5-9. Developed by Luther Burbank of Santa Rosa, California.
American Plum
Native Plum / Wild plum – Prunus Americana. Native eastern plum. Abundant, one inch, red and yellow fruit. Excellent food for wildlife. Suitable for humans as well. Especially good for jam, jelly and preserves. Small, graceful tree. Beautiful fall color. Fragrant, white flowers bloom profusely. Widely used as a rootstock for American or American-Japanese hybrid plums. Adapted to the light soils. Ripens in late summer. Hardy in Zone 2.
