5/10/11

List of Japanese Plum Trees

    • Japanese plums are more tart than European plums. Chris Ted/Photodisc/Getty Images

      When you go to the market to buy plums, you may not realize that they are classified as either Japanese or European in origin. Japanese plums typically have a meatier flesh, more juice and a tart flavor that is not found in the European varieties. If you are looking for a plum that will be suitable for canning or eating fresh from the tree, there are many unique cultivars within the Japanese plum family.

    Santa Rosa

    • Santa Rosa plums are among the most popular Japanese plums grown in the United States. The skin of this fruit is a vibrant blend of deep red and purple. The flesh of the fruit is yellow and extremely juicy. If you are looking for a plum tree that will be suitable for cross pollination with your existing trees, the Santa Rosa is one that many horticulturists suggest for its versatility. It is also one of the only cultivars of Japanese plums that is considered a self-pollinator.

    Howard Miracle

    • At first glance, you may not realize that Howard Miracle is a plum at all. With its orange and yellow skin, it more closely resembles a peach. When you taste the plum, you will catch a hint of pineapple combined with the tart flavor of the plum. It is more difficult to grow than other varieties and requires a pollinator tree, but is worth the additional attention it requires.

    Burbank

    • While it is a popular Japanese plum cultivar in southern California, the Burbank plum is not named after the city. It is named for the famous horticulturist Luther Burbank, the man who brought this variety of plum to the United States in the late 1800s. It has the dark reddish purple skin that you are used to seeing on plums. The fruit of the Burbank plum is juicy and the flesh is firm. Depending on the growing region, the fruit will ripen between late summer and early fall.

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