Plum Tree

From blossom to jam jar: a practical guide to growing plums at home

A plum tree rewards even a modest garden with generous harvests. Here you will find trees grown in containers, so they are easy to plant and ready to settle in. Slim columnar fruit trees suit small plots and patios, decorative forms add colour, and dense shrubs make a living hedge. To plant several trees at once, pick a ready collection and receive them together in one order. Browse our plum trees for sale and pick the form that fits your space.

Types of plum trees

The European plum (Prunus domestica) is the main group for the home orchard. A European plum tree is hardy and productive, and it divides into several types, so it helps to compare plum varieties by how you plan to use the fruit.

Dessert plums are juicy and sweet, and they are best eaten fresh. If you are looking for the sweetest plum tree, start with this group.

A prune plum has firm, oval fruit that dries well and keeps its shape in baking.

Greengage bears round, greenish yellow fruit with a honey sweetness.

A mirabelle plum has small yellow fruit that is perfect for jam and preserves.

If space is limited, choose a small plum tree in a compact form. Columnar types grow upright with a narrow crown and fit a large pot well, so a plum tree in pot can decorate a terrace and still give fruit. The final plum tree size depends on the form, from about 2 metres for compact trees to 5 metres or more for standard ones.

Ornamental plum and blackthorn

An ornamental plum tree is grown for its looks. A purple leaf plum tree keeps dark foliage through the season and is covered in pale pink blossom in spring. It works well as an accent in a lawn or border, and the purple leaf form can also be clipped into a tidy formal hedge.

For a natural boundary, look at blackthorn, known as sloe and botanically Prunus spinosa. It forms a dense, thorny hedge that shelters birds and flowers with white blossom before the leaves open. In autumn it carries small blue black berries, which are traditionally used for liqueurs and preserves.

Pollination

Many plums are self pollinating, so one tree will fruit alone. If you want the easiest start, choose self fertile plum trees. A second variety flowering at the same time usually raises the crop, because pollination is more complete. Some trees need a partner, so check the product page for each tree. This applies to all fruiting plum trees in your plan.

Planting and care

Good plum tree care starts with the site. Pick a sunny site and stay away from hollows where cold air settles, as plums bloom early and a late frost can harm the buds. A cold hardy tree handles European winters well, and a disease resistant tree needs less spraying.

Plant container trees from spring to autumn. Set the sapling at the same depth as in its pot, firm the soil and water well. Spread mulch around the base to keep moisture in the ground, since plums like soil that stays evenly damp. Prune in spring or summer, never in deep winter, to shape the crown and remove crossing branches. Keep a container tree watered and fed regularly. Your first plums usually appear after 3 to 5 years.

Pruning and common mistakes

A young tree should be given a well-defined structure from its first season. In the first years, choose a strong central leader and three or four well spaced side branches, and remove shoots that grow inward. Thin heavy crops in summer, because overloaded branches can snap under the weight of ripe fruit. Do not plant too deep, since a buried stem may rot, and keep the lawn away from the trunk so the roots get enough water. Water deeply during dry spells rather than a little every day. Protect the bark from rodents in the first winter with a plastic guard. With steady attention at this stage, the tree grows stronger and gives a cleaner, tastier harvest in later years.

Buying and delivery

If you want to buy plum trees from a reliable fruit tree nursery, we ship plants from our warehouse in the Netherlands during the period that is best for planting. Delivery across Europe is by DPD, UPS or PostNL and takes 2 to 5 working days. Shipping costs a flat 5.95 €, and orders from 59 € ship free. You receive a tracking number once your parcel is sent. Every plant is checked for quality before dispatch. If a tree arrives damaged, we offer a replacement or a refund.