Prunus domestica 'Belgian Purple' (Plum 'Belgian Purple')

Botanical name

Prunus domestica 'Belgian Purple'

Other names

Plum 'Belgian Purple', Dessert plum 'Belgian Purple', Cooking plum 'Belgian Purple', Prunus domestica 'Bleue de Belgique', Prunus domestica 'Blue de Belgique', Prunus domestica 'Belgian Blue'

Genus

Prunus Prunus

Variety or Cultivar

'Belgian Purple' _ 'Belgian Purple' is a vigorous, upright to spreading, deciduous fruit tree with ovate to elliptic, toothed, mid- to dark green leaves and white flowers in spring followed by small, oval to oblong, purple-flushed, blue fruit with sweet, yellow flesh ready for harvest in late summer.

Native to

Garden origin

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Spreading

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Colour

Flower

White in Spring

Foliage

Green in Spring; Green in Summer; Green in Autumn

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

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

Specific diseases

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

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Prunus domestica 'Belgian Purple' (Plum 'Belgian Purple') will reach a height of 8m and a spread of 6m 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 full sun. Irrigate in dry periods. Rootstock determines final height. Self-sterile so requires a pollinator to produce fruit. Pollination group C (3).

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 'Belgian Purple' (Plum 'Belgian Purple')

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 'Belgian Purple' (Plum 'Belgian Purple')

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 'Belgian Purple' (Plum 'Belgian Purple')

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/