The Damson plum tree is a variety of European plum, P. domestica subsp. insititia , producing edible fruit, high in sugar, with a distinct, astringent taste and typically used in preserves and jams. It is self-fertile, meaning that it does not require another tree for pollination. However, planting two different cultivars is recommended to produce higher quality fruit.The cultivar 'Shropshire Prune' is the most popular variety of Damson plum in the United States. Damson plum trees tolerate many types of soil and prefer a site in full sun with medium moisture and good drainage. It is cold hardy, resistant to diseases, and needs little maintenance. The tree has a moderate growth rate of 13 to 24 inches a year, but the mature size of the tree depends on the version you choose, standard or dwarf. In addition to providing fruit, Damson plum trees can be grown as a tough hedge or windbreak. 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.
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.
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: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Oval
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 tooth 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, clustered flowers bloom in April.
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 small to medium sized ovoid fruit, pointed at one end, has blue skin and yellow flesh. Ripens from August to early September.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
The small to medium sized fruit has blue skin and yellow flesh. It is said the flesh has an astringent taste which makes it more suitable to make jams, canning or preserving. Ripens from August to early September.
#deciduous #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #edible fruits #flowering tree #low maintenance #tree
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.