2 named cultivars

fruit vegetable

Japanese Plum

Prunus salicina

$62.94

The Story

Plant Bio

Prunus salicina, the Japanese plum, is a rounded deciduous fruit tree from China, reaching twenty to thirty-three feet on its own roots. White five-petalled flowers open on bare branches in early spring, serrated leaves two to four inches long follow, and juicy red to purple drupes with yellow-pink flesh ripen from midsummer.

Nearly all Japanese plums need a second, different cultivar flowering at the same time to set fruit — a single tree, however healthy, will often flower beautifully and crop nothing. Check the pollination group before buying. It also flowers very early, so late frosts are the other common reason a tree blooms and then sets no plums.

Uses & Benefits:

White blossom on bare branches in early spring, followed by richly coloured fruit.

Heavy crops of juicy dessert plums, good fresh, cooked, preserved or made into liqueur.

A larval host for eastern tiger swallowtail, and the early blossom feeds emerging pollinators.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fruit Vegetable

Height

318 inches

Width

210 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

China

Toxicity

Fruit edible; leaves and pits contain cyanogenic compounds

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Nature Hills

In Stock$62.94

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Buy two compatible cultivars for cross-pollination.
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil.
Choose a site not prone to late frost pockets.
Thin the young fruit to improve size and prevent breakage.
Prune only in dry summer weather, never in winter.
Remove damaged wood promptly to limit canker.

Pro Tip

Thin the young fruit to about four inches apart — unthinned branches break under the weight and the plums stay small.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant two compatible cultivars 🌳
Prune only in dry summer weather ✂️
Thin young fruit in early summer 🍑
Choose a site clear of frost pockets 🌡️

Don't

Rely on a single tree for fruit ❌
Prune in winter or wet weather ❌
Leave a heavy crop unthinned ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Prune
Thin

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Home orchard and fruit gardenSpring blossom feature in a lawnButterfly and pollinator planting

Companion Plants

Comfrey Chives Daffodil Borage Clover

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Japanese Plum questions

What zones can Japanese Plum grow in?

Japanese Plum is hardy in USDA Zones 5–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Japanese Plum deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Japanese Plum, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Japanese Plum bloom?

Japanese Plum typically blooms in early spring through mid-spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Japanese Plum need full sun?

Japanese Plum does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Japanese Plum drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Japanese Plum handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.