Top 5 Best Plum Trees | NatureHills.com

Hey everyone it’s Whitney with NatureHills.com. This week we’re covering Plum trees. The best plum trees, to be specific. First, I’d like to point out that there are a few different groups of plums out there. Japanese Plums, European plums, and American Hybrids. The ones you see in the grocery stores are mainly Japanese Plums but don’t discount the others! European varieties are fantastic for drying into prunes and American hybrids have been cultivated to grow in a range of different environments.

Another note I’d like to make before starting is that, while a fantastic plum in almost every way, Methley isn’t on this list for a couple of reasons. One - Methley has it’s own video on our channel that you can check out for more info on it and two - we wanted to highlight other amazing varieties that haven’t been in the spotlight yet. I didn’t want you to think we were knocking the classic. We’ll call it honorary #6. Alright, now for our Top 5.

#5 Superior Plum
Ok so I know I just covered the different kinds of plums but our first plum we’re talking about today is actually a cross between a Japanese plum and an American hybrid. Because of this, it’s very hardy while still having juicy, super sweet yellow fleshed plums to eat. You can grow these clingstone plums in regions up to 8,000 feet in elevation! You’ll want to pair this with a pollinating partner like Toka in order to harvest fruit each year. #5 Superior Plum - Growing zones 4-8, cold-hardy clingstone variety, and the large fruit is great for eating fresh!

#4 Toka Plum
Now, this is a hard plum to get your hands on. They absolutely fly out of the nurseries – if you see them in stock then you’re in luck and I’d suggest snatching up one or two while you can. This Japanese variety is sometimes called the bubblegum variety because of its distinct fragrance and candy-like taste. There’s nothing like the sweet scent the flowers and reddish-pink plums give off. Toka is self-pollinating but you’ll always get a bigger harvest when paired with another. It also makes a great pollinator to other Japanese varieties. #4 Toka Plum - Growing zones 3-8, unforgettable fragrance and taste, and a productive pollinating partner.

#3 Burgundy Plum
Burgundy is the tree to add if you’re in the market for A LOT of plums. It’s a super plum producer if you will. This Japanese variety sets deep, dark maroon, medium-sized plums that have a longer than average hang time – meaning you can leave them on the tree and they’ll be just fine hanging out for 2 - 3 weeks. This is another self-fertile variety but adding a second plum nearby will increase your harvest size. You can use Burgundy to pollinate other plums or pluots too. #3 Burgundy Plum - Growing zones 5-9, long hang-time, and a super fruit producer.

#2 Green Gage Bavy’s Plum
Will the plums off of this tree be winning any plum beauty contests? Probably not but our horticulturist couldn’t stop raving about them so I had to add it to the list. Green Gage Bavy’s originated in Belgium during the early 1800s and quickly became a novel favorite. They’re considered to be one of the finest dessert plums with fruit that’s tender and super sweet and just a touch tart. It blooms later than other varieties, making it a great choice for those who often experience late frosts. It’s self-fruiting but as always, we recommend pairing with another for better production. #2 Green Gage Bavy’s Plum - Growing zones 4-8, unique lime-green color, and a coveted dessert plum.

#1 Santa Rosa
Introduced right here in the United States, Santa Rosa has risen to the top of the plum tree ranks over the years for its exceptional heat tolerance, dependable harvest size, and of course, the amber-fleshed delectable fruit. This clingstone variety is perfect for eating fresh off the tree or cutting up and adding to a fruit salad. They can be frozen, cooked, dried, canned, or stored as preserves to add to ice cream during the winter months. I could go on and on about the uses but we’ll leave it there for now. Santa Rosa is fast growing and can grow anywhere from 15-25 feet but can easily be kept manageable by some light pruning. It’s a self-fertile variety but add another plum like Methley or burgundy to increase the harvest size and lengthen the harvest season. #1 Santa Rosa - Growing zones 5-9, heat-tolerant, with some of the most versatile plums.

If you’re looking for more in-depth information on taking care of plum trees, I’d like to direct you to our #ProPlantTips blog where our plant experts talk all about care tips and tricks for plum trees.

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