Most plum species are highly susceptible to plum curculio, a pest that can easily ruin the entire crop. It is generally located in the eastern half of the United States, and they are active for up to 6 weeks, starting shortly after bloom. They can ruin or disfigure the crop of other species as well. Oriental fruit moth can also be a serious problem for plums and other stonefruit. Many varieties are quite susceptible to various forms of disease as well, with the most damaging being brown rot, which affects the fruit, and black knot, which affects the branches. Splitting from the rain is also a frequent occurrence. Plums require high effort to manage.
European Plums: Prunus domestica
varieties in this section generally share these traits (unless stated otherwise)
Susceptible to black knot, brown rot, canker, and splitting. Blooms later than the other plum species shown here. Varieties labeled as self-fertile generally need to be cross-pollinated to produce an acceptable crop. European plums may take a few extra years to produce on most rootstocks (compared to other plum species).
Bavay's Green Gage
Originated in Belgium
Zone
• 4?
Ripens
🍈
• very late
• can hang for several weeks
• can hang for several weeks
Color
• yellow-green skin
Growth
• semi-dwarf
Fruit
• gage-type
Blue Byrd
non-patented
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late
• somewhat precocious?
• somewhat precocious?
Color
• dark purple to blue skin
Fruit
• 2" long
Afflictions
• Very resistant to black knot.
Cambridge Gage
Blooms
💮
• mid-late? ◦ later or hardier than other gage-type plums
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late
Color
• yellow-green skin
Growth
• semi-dwarf
Fruit
• gage-type
Castleton
Valor x Iroquois. Developed in New York (1993).
Zone
• 4 (3)
Ripens
🍈
• mid (mid-late)
• precocious, hangs well, may ripen asynchronously
• precocious, hangs well, may ripen asynchronously
Color
• purple or blue skin
Growth
• medium vigor, spreading, heavy spurring
Fruit
• 1.8" H x 1.4" W (4.6cm x 3.6cm), freestone
Afflictions
• Resistant to bacterial spot?
Coe's Golden Drop
Originated in England (1800)
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• very late
Color
• yellow skin, purple blush
Fruit
• freestone
Count Althann's Gage
Alias
• Reine Claude Conducta
Zone
• 3b (3a)
Blooms
💮
• late
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late?
Color
• pink-purple skin
Growth
• semi-dwarf
Fruit
• gage-type
Early Laxton
Zone
• 4
Ripens
🍈
• early?
• one of the first euro plums to ripen
• one of the first euro plums to ripen
Color
• orange-yellow skin with a heavy red-pink blush
Fruit
• freestone
Empress
President x Emily
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• very late
• at least somewhat precocious
• at least somewhat precocious
Color
• dark purple to blue skin
Fruit
• 2" H x 1.5" W, semi-freestone
Storage
• 2 months
Ersinger
Originated in Germany
Zone
• 5 (4)
Ripens
🍈
• mid? (early-mid)
Color
• purple skin or blue skin
Golden Transparent Gage
Zone
• 4?
Ripens
🍈
• very late
Color
• yellow skin, red blush
Growth
• semi-dwarf
Fruit
• gage-type
Imperial Epineuse
Originated in the Clairac commune of France (1870)
Zone
• 4a (4b)
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late
Color
• blue or maroon skin
Fruit
• freestone
Jefferson
Developed in New York
Zone
• 5
Blooms
💮
• early?
Ripens
🍈
• ◦ earlier than other Gage plums
• precocious?
• precocious?
Color
• yellow skin
Fruit
• gage-type
Jubileum
Developed in Sweden
Alias
• Jubilee
Zone
• 4
Ripens
🍈
• mid (mid-late)
• biennial
• biennial
Color
• burgundy skin of various shades
Fruit
• freestone?
• victoria-type?
• victoria-type?
Jubileum may not be as biennial as the Victoria plum.
Kenmore
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• late
Fruit
• freestone
Afflictions
• Somewhat resistant to black knot.
Kenmore is similar to Stanley, but it is more productive and disease resistant.
Kirke's Blue
Originated in England (1830)
Ripens
🍈
• mid?
Color
• purple or blue skin
Fruit
• freestone
Long John
Bred in New York (1993)
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• late
Color
• purple or blue skin
Growth
• semi-dwarf (10-12ft tall)
Fruit
• 50g/fruit, freestone
Afflictions
• Resistant to bacterial spot.
Middleburg
Ripens
🍈
• very late ◦ probably later than most others within this category
Color
• blue or dark purple skin
Fruit
• 1.5" x 1.5"
Most zone 5 areas in the US may not have a grow season warm or long enough to properly ripen Middleburg and possibly other very late ripening European plums.
Mirabelle De Nancy
Originated in France during the 1800's
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late?
Color
• yellow skin
Growth
• semi-dwarf
Fruit
• freestone
• mirabelle-type
• mirabelle-type
Mount Royal
Discovered in Quebec before 1903 (possibly before 1850)
Zone
• 4a
Ripens
🍈
• mid ◦ probably somewhere between 1.5 to 3 weeks after Opal
Color
• dark purple to blue skin
Growth
• semi-dwarf
Fruit
• freestone or semi-freestone, small pit
Opal
Oullins Gage x Early Favourite. Bred in Alnarp, Sweden (1925).
Zone
• 3b ◦ died back to the ground at -40F (-40C) = 3a, bordering 2b
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid
• may ripen asynchronously and drop when ripe
• precocious?
• may ripen asynchronously and drop when ripe
• precocious?
Color
• burgundy skin
Fruit
• semi-freestone
Afflictions
• Somewhat resistant to plum pox virus?
Oullins Gage
unknown parentage. Discovered in France (1850's).
Alias
• Reine Claude de Oullins
Zone
• 4
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid
Color
• green skin
Fruit
• gage-type
Afflictions
• Susceptible to bacterial spot.
Parfume De September
Ripens
🍈
• late? ◦ 2 weeks after other Mirabelle plums
Color
• yellow skin
Fruit
• 1" diameter
• mirabelle-type
• mirabelle-type
President
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• very late
Color
• dark purple or blue skin
Fruit
• semi-freestone?
Afflictions
• Resistant to black knot.
President is grown commercially in the Northwest.
Purple Gage
Alias
• Reine Claude Violette
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late
Color
• purple or blue skin
Fruit
• gage-type
• freestone, small pit
• freestone, small pit
Reine Claude Doree
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late?
Color
• yellow-green skin
Fruit
• gage-type
Reine De Mirabelle
Zone
• 5
Blooms
💮
• mid-late
Ripens
🍈
• late? ◦ 1 or 2 weeks after other Mirabelle plums
Color
• yellow skin
Fruit
• larger than other mirabelle plums
Reine de Mirabelle is a cross between a mirabelle-type plum and a gage-type.
Rosy Gage
Imperial Epineuse x unknown
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late
• ripen asynchronously
• ripen asynchronously
Color
• pink-purple skin
Afflictions
• Highly susceptible to brown rot and black knot.
Seneca
Fellenberg x Prinlew. Introduced in New York (1972).
Zone
• 4 (3)
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late
Color
• purple or burgundy skin
Growth
• semi-dwarf?
Fruit
• very large
Afflictions
• Resistant to black knot.
Stanley
Agen x Grand Duke. Introduced in Geneva, New York (1926).
Zone
• 4a ◦ 800 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• late
• precocious?
• precocious?
Color
• purple to blue skin
Fruit
• freestone
Afflictions
• Resistant to bacterial spot.
Valor
Imperial Epineuse x Grand Duke. Developed in Vineland, Ontario (1967).
Zone
• 4
Ripens
🍈
• very late
Color
• dark purple skin
Fruit
• semi-freestone
Afflictions
• Resistant to bacterial spot.
Victoria
Discovered in England (1840)
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late
• biennial
• biennial
Color
• pink-red skin, golden yellow blush
Fruit
• victoria-type
• freestone or semi-freestone
• freestone or semi-freestone
Victory
Vision x Valor
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• late
• precocious
• precocious
Color
• purple-pink skin
Fruit
• 2" long
• semi-freestone
• semi-freestone
Vision
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• very late
Color
• dark purple skin
Fruit
• 1.5" x 1.5", 55g
• freestone, small pit
• freestone, small pit
Afflictions
• Resistant to bacterial spot.
Asian Plums: Prunus salicina
varieties in this section generally share these traits (unless stated otherwise)
Susceptible to black knot, brown rot, canker, and splitting. Blooms quite early in the season.
Beauty
Zone
• 5 ◦ 250 chill hours
Blooms
💮
• early-mid
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid
• precocious
• precocious
Color
• red skin, red flesh
Afflictions
• Resistant to black knot.
Beauty tends to lack flavor, but this may not be the case when it is grown in a region that receives high temperatures early in the grow season.
Brookgold
Introduced in Brooks, Alberta (1979).
Zone
• 2a
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid?
Color
• yellow skin
Fruit
• 1" diameter
• freestone
• freestone
Burbank
The seed originated from Japan and was imported to the US in 1883. The variety was named in 1887.
Zone
• 5a ◦ 400 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• mid? (mid-late)
• biennial
• long harvest season
• precocious
• biennial
• long harvest season
• precocious
Color
• burgundy skin, yellow blush
Fruit
• semi-freestone or clingstone
Afflictions
• Susceptible to bacterial spot.
Burbank is a Japanese plum, but there is a plumcot that is sometimes called 'Burbank' as well. Its real name is supposedly 'Apex'.
Early Golden
Ripens
🍈
• early
• biennial
• biennial
Color
• yellow skin, red blush
Fruit
• 28g/fruit
• freestone
• freestone
Afflictions
• Susceptible to bacterial spot.
Elephant Heart
Originated in Sebastopol, California (1929). unpatented.
Zone
• 5 ◦ 500 chill hours
Blooms
💮
• early-mid
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late?
• hangs well
• hangs well
Color
• dark red-purple skin with a tan bloom and red flesh
Fruit
• freestone
Emerald Beaut
Wickson x 3W32LC (Red Beaut x open pollination). Developed in California. PP9162 (1994).
Zone
• 5? ◦ 600-700 chill hours
Blooms
💮
• early-mid
Ripens
🍈
• late?
Color
• yellow-green skin
Fruit
• 2.5" diameter
• nurseries say freestone, patent says clingstone
• nurseries say freestone, patent says clingstone
Emerald Beaut plums can hang on the tree for roughly 2 months after they mature, and the longer they remain, the sweeter they get. They also retain much of their original texture as they hang.
Fofonoff
Developed in Buchanan, Saskatchewan (1973).
Zone
• 2a (1a)
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid?
Color
• yellow skin
Fruit
• clingstone
Golden Nectar
seedling of Mariposa (Improved Satsuma). Discovered in California. PP4977 (1981).
Zone
• 5 ◦ 400-500 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• very late
• may not ripen in cool summer climates
• may not ripen in cool summer climates
Color
• yellow skin
Fruit
• 2.4" diameter
• freestone, small pit
• freestone, small pit
Ivanovka
Developed in Morden, Manitoba (1939).
Zone
• 2a
Color
• yellow skin? red blush?
Fruit
• semi-freestone
Methley
Zone
• 4 ◦ 150-250 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• very early
Color
• red-purple skin, red flesh
Fruit
• clingstone
Afflictions
• Highly susceptible to black knot.
Ozark Premier
Burbank x Methley. Introduced in Missouri (1946).
Zone
• 5
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late
• hangs well
• precocious
• ripens asynchronously?
• hangs well
• precocious
• ripens asynchronously?
Color
• burgundy skin
Fruit
• 2" diameter
• clingstone, small pit
• clingstone, small pit
Afflictions
• Susceptible to bacterial spot.
Thinning out excessive fruit production can improve the quality of Ozark Premier. This is occasionally mentioned about a number of varieties from various species.
Santa Rosa
non-patented
Zone
• 5b ◦ 300 chill hours
Blooms
💮
• early-mid?
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid ◦ around Redhaven peach
Color
• burgundy skin
In addition to the skin, the flesh near the stone of Santa Rosa is also tart.
Satsuma
Originated in Japan. Introduced to the US in 1889. non-patented.
Zone
• 4? (5a) ◦ 300 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• mid? (early-mid)
Color
• dark burgundy skin, red flesh
Fruit
• semi-freestone or clingstone
Shiro
Originated in California (1899). non-patented.
Zone
• 5? (4) ◦ 400-500 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid
Color
• yellow skin
Fruit
• clingstone
Afflictions
• Resistant to black knot.
Less susceptible to brown rot than most plums?
Less susceptible to brown rot than most plums?
People only seem to grow this variety because it's widely known for being a reliable producer, otherwise they prefer the flavor of other plums. It sounds like if you let them hang long enough for them to turn orange-yellow, they're alright.
Weeping Santa Rosa
Zone
• 5 ◦ 200-400 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• ◦ a few weeks after Santa Rosa
Growth
• semi-dwarf (8 to 10ft tall)
Weeping Santa Rosa may have a superior flavor than the original Santa Rosa.
North American Hybrid Plums
varieties in this section generally share these traits (unless stated otherwise)
Strong resistance to black knot. Above average resistance to canker. Susceptible to splitting. Blooms relatively late, and may have slightly more resistance against frost damage. Production issues involving self-sterility, poor pollen production, and genetic incompatibility. A pure Prunus americana plum is recommended for the pollination of american hybrid plums. Asian plums with an overlapping bloom may work as well.
Alderman
P. Salicina x P. Americana. Originated in Minnesota. non-patented.
Zone
• 4a
Blooms
💮
• mid
Ripens
🍈
• mid ◦ 0 to 1 week after Toka?
Color
• red skin
Fruit
• clingstone
Black Ice
? (Oka (P. besseyi) x Z's Blue Giant (P. salicina)) x P. salicina. Developed in Wisconsin. PP16621 filed in 2004.
Zone
• 3b? (4a)
Blooms
💮
• lacks pollen
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid ◦ 1 week before Toka
• biennial
• biennial
Color
• dark purple skin, red flesh
Growth
• dwarf
• 8.2ft H x 6.6ft W (2.5m x 2m) at the age of nine
• 8.2ft H x 6.6ft W (2.5m x 2m) at the age of nine
Fruit
• 2" diameter
• semi-freestone
• tart skin, sweet flesh
• semi-freestone
• tart skin, sweet flesh
Afflictions
• Resistant to bacterial spot.
Multiple reports imply that Black Ice is only hardy down to zone 4a, but people "occasionally" experience severe or completely dieback in warmer areas. This may be the results of some other kind of vulnerability.
Brookred
Zone
• 3a?
Ripens
🍈
• early?
Color
• dark red skin
Fruit
• freestone
Afflictions
• Highly susceptible to splitting.
Brookred is a very unreliable plum for some people. When it does manage to fruit, splitting becomes an issue. The buds may also have some type of vulnerability to cold temperatures or late frosts other hybrids don't seem to share.
La Crescent
Shiro (P. Salicina) x Howard Yellow (P. Americana). non-patented.
Zone
• 3b? (4a)
Blooms
💮
• mid?
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid? (early)
Fruit
• freestone
A few people have confirmed La Crescent's mild apricot flavor, but it may not be consistent, at least in less than ideal environments.
There are some fairly contradicting reports about La Crescent's bloom and ripening time, but it probably ripens a few weeks before Toka.
Purple Heart
Historical information on the 'Purple Heart' plum has been lost.
Zone
• 4
Blooms
💮
• mid
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid
• hangs well
• hangs well
Color
• purple or burgundy skin, red flesh
Fruit
• low acid skin?
Afflictions
• Somewhat resistant to black knot.
Purple Heart may be less susceptible to brown rot than most plums.
Purple Heart may be less susceptible to brown rot than most plums.
South Dakota
P. americana x unknown. May be purely Prunus americana. Developed in South Dakota (early 1900's). Released in Minnesota (1949).
Zone
• 3
Blooms
💮
• mid? ◦ extended bloom
Ripens
🍈
• mid-late? ◦ after most american hybrids
Fruit
• freestone
Superior
Burbank (P. Salicina) x Kaga (P. Americana x P. Simonii). Originated in Minnesota (1933). non-patented.
Zone
• 4a (3b)
Blooms
💮
• early-mid
Ripens
🍈
• mid ◦ 0.5 weeks before Toka
• biennial
• exceedingly precocious
• biennial
• exceedingly precocious
Color
• red skin
Fruit
• 2"+, clingstone
The young branches of Superior may need to be thinned or staked to prevent its precocious nature from breaking them.
Toka
P. americana x P. simonii. Developed in South Dakota (1911).
Alias
• Bubblegum
Zone
• 3
Blooms
💮
• mid
Ripens
🍈
• mid ◦ 1.5 to 2.5 weeks after Redhaven peach (in the northern half of the US)
Color
• burgundy skin
Fruit
• small-size
• semi-freestone
• semi-freestone
Toka is rumored to be a decent pollinator for other hybrids, but you're generally going to want a pure Prunus americana.
Toka is also called 'Bubblegum' because most people claim it tastes like bubblegum. In my experience, it was certainly noticeable, but it was not the dominant flavor. After a few days on the table, it lost its complex flavor, but it may last longer in the fridge.
Underwood
Shiro (Asian hybrid) x Wyant (P. Americana). Developed in Minnesota (1921). non-patented.
Zone
• 3
Blooms
💮
• early-mid ◦ extended bloom
Ripens
🍈
• early? ◦ a few weeks before Toka?
Color
• burgundy skin
Fruit
• medium-size
• semi-freestone or clingstone
• semi-freestone or clingstone
Afflictions
• Less susceptible to brown rot than most plums.
Waneta
Apple (P. Salicina) x Terry (P. Americana). Originated in South Dakota (1913).
Zone
• 3a
Blooms
💮
• mid? (early-mid)
Ripens
🍈
• mid ◦ around Toka
Color
• burgundy skin
Fruit
• 1.5 to 2" in diameter
• clingstone
• thick tart skin, easy to peel, sweet flesh
• clingstone
• thick tart skin, easy to peel, sweet flesh
Prunus Cerasifera Hybrid Plums
varieties in this section generally share these traits (unless stated otherwise)
Resistant to black knot. Blooms quite early in the season.
Lavina
P. cerasifera x P. salicina. Developed in Lithuania.
Zone
• 5? (4)
Blooms
💮
• early
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid
• long harvest season
• long harvest season
Color
• red skin
Fruit
• small-size
• freestone, small pit
• freestone, small pit
Afflictions
• Less susceptible to brown rot than most plums?
Obilnaja
P. salicina x P. cerasifera. Originated in Yalta.
Zone
• 5a
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid
Color
• dark purple skin
Fruit
• small-size
• freestone, small pit
• freestone, small pit
Afflictions
• Resistant to bacterial spot.
Less susceptible to brown rot than most plums?
Less susceptible to brown rot than most plums?
Obilnaja becomes well colored long before it's ripe.
Sprite
P. cerasifera x P. salicina
Zone
• 4 ◦ 400 chill hours
Blooms
💮
• early
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid
• long harvest season
• long harvest season
Color
• dark purple, blue, grey, maroon, or black skin
Growth
• semi-dwarf (8 to 10ft tall)
Fruit
• freestone
Sprite plums are well colored long before they are ripe.
Southern Hybrid Plums
varieties in this section generally share these traits (unless stated otherwise)
Prunus salicina crossed with North American species. Resistant to various diseases. Probably blooms quite early in the season.
AU Roadside
Color
• burgundy skin, red flesh
Fruit
• medium-large size
• semi-freestone
• semi-freestone
Afflictions
• Somewhat resistant to brown rot.
AU Rosa
backcrosses involving Starcher No. 1 (P. angustifolia) and primarily Santa Rosa (P. salicina) or seedlings of the two.
Zone
• 5b (5a) ◦ 700 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• early-mid
Color
• burgundy skin
Fruit
• medium-size
• clingstone
• clingstone
Afflictions
• Resistant to brown rot, black knot, bacterial spot, and sun scald.
AU Rubrum
Zone
• ◦ 700 chill hours
Color
• burgundy skin, red flesh
Fruit
• medium-large size
• clingstone
• clingstone
Afflictions
• Resistant to bacterial canker and bacterial spot. Resistant to black knot? Somewhat resistant to brown rot and leaf scald.
AU Rubrum is one of the better quality AU plums.
Gulf Beauty
? (contains Ozark Premier, Burbank, Beauty, and Bruce) x Taiwan (Hung-ju x open pollination). Developed in Florida. PP11224 (1997).
Zone
• ◦ 225-250 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• ◦ the earliest gulf plum to ripen
• ~2.5 months after pollination in Florida
• can hang for 7-10 days once they are ripe
• ~2.5 months after pollination in Florida
• can hang for 7-10 days once they are ripe
Color
• burgundy skin
Fruit
• medium to medium-small in size
• clingstone
• tart, slightly bitter skin with sweet flesh
• clingstone
• tart, slightly bitter skin with sweet flesh
Afflictions
• Very resistant to bacterial canker and fruit scald. Resistant to bacterial spot and leaf scald.
Gulf Blaze
? (contains Ozark Premier, Burbank, Beauty, and Bruce) x Taiwan (Hung-ju x open pollination). Developed in Florida. PP10880 (1997).
Zone
• ◦ 250 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• ◦ roughly 1 to 2 weeks after Gulf Beauty
Color
• burgundy skin
Fruit
• medium-size
• semi-freestone
• sweet flesh, tart skin
• semi-freestone
• sweet flesh, tart skin
Afflictions
• Very resistant to bacterial canker and fruit scald. Resistant to bacterial spot and leaf scald.
Gulf Gold
Developed in Umatilla, Florida. non-patented.
Zone
• ◦ 250 chill hours
Blooms
💮
• ◦ a few days after Gulf Ruby but should overlap with any gulf-series plum
Ripens
🍈
• ◦ 3 to 4 weeks after Gulf Beauty?
Color
• yellow skin, orange blush
Growth
• semi-dwarf
Afflictions
• Resistant to bacterial canker?
Somewhat susceptible to leaf scald.
Somewhat susceptible to leaf scald.
Gulf Rose
Developed in Florida. PP12833 (2000).
Zone
• ◦ 275 chill hours
Blooms
💮
• ◦ a few days after most other gulf-series plums
Ripens
🍈
• ◦ roughly 2 to 3 weeks after Gulf Beauty
• precocious
• precocious
Color
• deep burgundy skin and flesh
Fruit
• medium-size
• semi-freestone
• sweet flesh
• slightly tart skin with no bitterness?
• semi-freestone
• sweet flesh
• slightly tart skin with no bitterness?
Afflictions
• Very resistant to bacterial canker and fruit scald. Resistant to bacterial spot.
Somewhat susceptible to leaf scald.
Somewhat susceptible to leaf scald.
Gulf Ruby
Developed in Umatilla, Florida (1982). non-patented.
Zone
• ◦ 225 chill hours
Ripens
🍈
• ◦ roughly 0.5 to 1 week after Gulf Beauty
• can hang for 3-5 days once they are ripe
• can hang for 3-5 days once they are ripe
Color
• red-purple skin
Fruit
• medium-size
• clingstone
• sweet flesh, tart skin
• clingstone
• sweet flesh, tart skin
Afflictions
• Susceptible to bacterial canker and fruit scald.
Gulf Ruby's susceptibility to bacterial canker may limit its lifespan to 5-8 years in wet climates.