'Stanley' European Plum is a prune-type plum tree or shrub in the rose family, a cultivar of Prunus domestica with an upright or vase form. It has showy white flowers in Spring and edible fruit with purple skin and sweet yellow flesh. It can be slightly thorny. It is less hardy than some cultivars like 'Mount Royal'. For best results locate the 'Stanley' European plum in a sheltered site with full sun, medium moist, organic soil with good drainage. Flowers can be susceptible to early spring frost damage. Avoid any periodic chemical spraying in the vicinity of the tree. 'Stanley' European Plum produces prune-plums that have a long shelf life, firm flesh and a high sugar content. The high sugar content makes the fruit suitable for canning or drying or to be sun-dried into prunes. These trees should begin to bear fruit in 3 to 4 years. The 'Stanley' cultivar is typically grafted onto one of several different rootstocks. The mature size of the tree depends on the chosen rootstock: standard, semi-dwarf, or dwarf. The standard size is 18 to 20 feet high and wide. The semi-dwarf size is 12 to 15 feet high and wide. The dwarf size is 8 to 10 feet high and wide. The rootstock can also determine the tree's vigor. The 'Stanley' plum is self-fruitful, but planting two different cultivars as a group is recommended for best fruit. Pairing 'Stanley' with 'Bluefre', 'Verity', 'Empress', or 'President' is common. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Prone to split-pit and susceptible to black knot. Aphids can be a common problem to all plum trees. More information on Prunus domestica .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withPrunus x subhirtella 'Pendula'
Fills a similar nicheFicus carica 'Brown Turkey'Prunus americanaPrunus domestica subsp. insititia 'Shropshire Prune'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 18 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 18 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The green elliptic leaves have fine teeth on the margin.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The white blossoms are a good ornamental feature.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Blue; Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The medium sized fruit has a blue skin and pale yellow flesh.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
The medium sized fruit has a blue skin and pale yellow flesh. The fruit is sweet and juicy. The high sugar content makes it a great choice for canning and drying. Ripens in early September.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Good for fresh eating, preserves, drying, and canning.
#deciduous #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #tree #shrub #edible fruits #dwarf
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Leaves; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.