Plum Trees
PLUM TREES
When choosing plum trees for your property, consider the mature size, chilling hours required, and pollination needs.
European and Japanese plum varieties thrive in zones 5-9, reaching 15-30 feet at maturity. Allow enough space between trees and structures for future growth. American varieties suit zones 3-8 and grow 10-20 feet tall.
Plums bloom early, so choose varieties needing similar chilling hours for optimum flowering overlap. Most need 500-1000 hours under 45°F to break dormancy. Insufficient chilling prevents fruit set.
Many varieties are self-fruitful but can benefit from having a compatible pollinator nearby. You’ll need to ensure the genetics of the trees are compatible for successful pollination. For instance, European plums usually don’t pollinate Japanese varieties.
At Marcum’s Nursery, we stock European, Japanese, American, and interspecific plum varieties suitable for the Oklahoma climate.
Plum Varieties
Below are some plum tree varieties we have available for spring 2024, along with details on pollination needs. Our plum inventory changes yearly but often includes these well-adapted, heavy-bearing varieties:
Methley
Methley is an exceptionally easy-to-grow, self-fertile Japanese plum thriving in zones 4-9. Reaching 15-25 feet tall and 12-20 feet wide, it produces reliable crops with less than 250 chill hours. Its bright reddish-purple skin and juicy, sweet red flesh are delightful and fresh.
Though self-fertile, interplanted Bruce, Morris, or Burbank pollinators significantly increase yields.
Ozark Premier
Ozark Premier produces burgundy-purple fruit with orange blushes when grown with pollinators like Shiro or Methley.
Its yellow flesh is sweet-tart with a finely-grained texture, perfect for fresh eating. Expect mid to late summer harvests after its 700-800 chill hour requirement is met. Full sun and routine irrigation produce the best results.
Learn more about Ozark Premier on our Plant Library.
Alderman
Alderman is a productive medium-large Japanese plum that bears fruit annually. This variety often produces clusters of bluish fruit within two years of planting. Alderman reaches 20 feet tall at maturity. Its showy spring blooms and spreading form make it a great addition to edible landscapes.
Bruce
Bruce withstands hot, dry summers and occasional spring frost, suiting it to climates like Oklahoma’s. This early-fruiting Japanese-American hybrid bears sweet reddish-purple freestone plums perfect for jams or fresh eating.
Generally, not self-fruitful, ensure cross-pollination with Methley, Santa Rosa, or other Japanese varieties. Allow 10-20 foot height and room to spread at maturity.
Morris
Morris delights with abundant large, oval, red-skinned plums clustered along upright branches. Its sweet, bright red flesh and crisp texture make for excellent fresh snacking and cooking.
For a reliable fruit set, plant-compatible Japanese pollinators like Methley, Ozark Premier, or Santa Rosa nearby. Allow 18-20 foot height/width for maturity.
Blue Damson
Also called damascene, Blue Damson is a European plum variety producing small to medium-sized stone fruits. Blue Damson plums are small and have a semi-thick, smooth, taut dark blue to red-purple skin. They are primarily used in cooked preparations rather than eaten fresh.
Blue Damson is a self-fertile variety, but planting additional European pollinators like Stanley or Italian varieties can increase yields. This compact plum tree reaches a mature size of 12-16 feet tall and wide.
Stanley
Stanley is considered one of the best European prune plums. This self-fertile variety produces abundant large, sweet blue oval fruit in late summer, perfect for fresh eating or drying into prunes. Though not required, planting additional European pollinators like Italian or Blue Damson can increase fruit yields substantially.
Stanley grows up to 20 feet tall and wide when mature. It needs approximately 700 chill hours annually to set a good crop.
Learn more about Stanley plums on our Plant Library.
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is a heat-tolerant Japanese plum variety producing delicious, healthful stone fruit. It has red and purple skin with sweet, yellow flesh. This variety shows off fragrant pinkish-white spring flowers. Santa Rosa ripens in the late mid-season.
Partially self-fertile but plant Methley, Bruce, or Burbank pollinators to maximize crops. Grows 15-25 feet tall. 300-500 chill hours.
Learn more about Santa Rosa plums on our Plant Library.
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