Damson Plum

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Damson is a subspecies of the European plum (Prunus domestica subsp. Institia) that is native to Great Britain, and is actually believed to be the ancestor of European plums. It ha s been used for centuries for good reason. Their fruits have a deep blue skin and they are more oval than round, and have a rich flavour that is both sweet and astringent. They are famous for being made into jam, even though they are clingstone. Cold hardiness: Damsons are cold hardy, so much so that they have a history of being used for hedges and windbreaks. Pollination: Damson plums are self-fertile, so you only need one to get fruit. Also, damsons produce true-to-type offspring, which is unusual with fruit trees – meaning that a seedling will turn out very similar to the parent. Disease resistance: Moderately resistant to black knot, a very common disease of plums. Rootstock: Myrobalan 29C. References: On the Origin of Plums: A Study of Sloe, Damson, Cherry Plum, Domestic Plums, and Their Intermediate Forms. Your Plum Tree Versus Black Knot. Image 1: Jonathan Billinger. Show more