European Plum Prunus domestica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus doh-MESS-tik-a
- Description
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Common Plum belongs to the rose family and originates in Turkey and Europe but is now only grown in cultivation. This plant typically grows as a large shrub or small tree up to 10-20 feet tall. It is a deciduous tree with showy white flowers and edible purple stone fruits. It may have some spines. Greengage and damson plums are subspecies of P. domestica. It is the latest blooming of the plums making it best for northern climates.
It is primarily grown on the west coast and the Great Lakes area to make prunes due to its high sugar content. Most plums grown for the produce section of the supermarket are Japanese varieties. Cultivars of this plant have fruits available in purple, red and yellow.
Grow in fertile moist well-drained soil in full sun and protect from chemical sprays.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: As with most of the Prunus genus, this tree has some insect and disease issues. Viral, fungal and bacterial diseases can affect the fruit and leaves. Also, powdery mildew, rusts and brown rot can appear. The codling moth is the main insect but webworms, mites and borers can affect it.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Bluefire', 'Stanley'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Bluefire', 'Stanley'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- domestica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Turkey
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Fruits are dried to make plums. They can also be eaten raw or cooked.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fleshy 2-3 inch drupe matures to blue or black and has 1 seed in it. Appears in September
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Showy white flowers with 5 petals and long stamens appear singly or in pairs in spring before leaf-out.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The simple green egg-shaped leaves are 2-4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide and are alternate on the stem. The base is wedge-shaped and the tip is pointed. The margins are serrated and the upper surface has hairs
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Bark Description:
- Thin smooth bark on mature trees
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- Encircles a bud
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth and dark brown. Three or more overlapping scales on buds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
