Prunus domestica (any variety) (Plum (any variety))

Botanical name

Prunus domestica (any variety)

Other names

Plum (any variety)

Genus

Prunus Prunus

Variety or Cultivar

P. domestic (any variety) _ If you don't know the variety name of your Prunus domestica (Plum), you can add this plant to your lists to get care advice.

P. domestic (any variety) are upright, deciduous fruit trees with ovate to elliptic, toothed, mid-green leaves and white flowers in spring followed by edible fruit. Harvest date is dependent upon variety.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Upright

Colour

Flower

White in Spring

Foliage

Green in Spring; Green in Summer

How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Plum leaf-curling aphid , Leaf mining moths , Fruit tree red spider mite , Caterpillars , Bullfinches , Brown scale , Birds , Aphids

Specific diseases

Blossom wilt , Bacterial canker , Brown rot on fruits , Silver leaf

General care

Pruning

Thin fruit as needed. Regular pruning required according to tree form. Prune in summer in areas where silver leaf disease is prevalent.

Propagation

A self-fertile variety, it does not need to be planted with another plum to produce reliable crops.

Propagation methods

Softwood cuttings, Budding, Grafting

Monthly care advice

Where to grow

Prunus domestica (any variety) (Plum (any variety)) will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m after 5-10 years.

Suggested uses

Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Specimen tree, Wallside and trellises

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, neutral soil in sun. Water regularly in dry periods but avoid waterlogged soil. Rootstock determines mature height. Most are self-fertile, though some require a pollinator for fruit production. Mulch in spring.

Soil type

Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Prunus domestica (any variety) (Plum (any variety))

Common pest name

grape ground pearl

Scientific pest name

Margarodes vitis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Prunus domestica (any variety) (Plum (any variety))

Common pest name

Chlorotic leafroll of apricot; Chlorotic leafroll of nectarine; Chlorotic leafroll of peach; Decline of Japanese plum; Decline of peach; Dieback of apricot; European stone fruit yellows; European yellows of peach; Italian rosette of peach; Leptonecrosis of plum; MoliŠres disease of cherry; Vein clearing of peach; Vein enlargement of peach

Scientific pest name

Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum

Type

Phytoplasma

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

EU regulation appears satisfactory for UK; willing to participate in future review of EU listing.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Prunus domestica (any variety) (Plum (any variety))

Common pest name

Peach red-necked longhorn; Plum and peach longhorn; red-necked longhorn

Scientific pest name

Aromia bungii

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

A pest mainly of Prunus previously intercepted in the UK on wooden packaging imported from China. There have been longstanding outbreaks of the pest in Italy; a source of significant trade in plants for instant landscapes; and also findings in Germany. The UK will press for early EU regulation and consider UK national measures if risk increases.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/