Information
Species: Prunus domestica
Use: Dessert plum
Ploidy: ??
Pollination Group: C
Blossom: (notes to follow)
Season: mid-September (?)
More Info: Pomona Fruits
Tree Source: Peter Nichol, Northern Fruit Group
Rootstock: St Julien ‘A’
Planting Size: 2 yr old feathered maiden
Planting Date: 8th February 2018
Gallery
Notes & Observations
Background – Available sources say it was bred in 1913 and was a favourite of the Queen Mother. I’d assume from the name that it was bred by Luther Burbank in the US, one of the 113 plums and prunes he developed (and could even be one of those pictured here).
7.5.20 – No blossom this year. Noted small holes in many of the leaves – possible symptom of shot-hole disease, although it could also be viral or insect-related.
13.8.20 – The tree lost a couple of major scaffold branches due to wind-damage in July & early August and the resulting wounds will have to be monitored carefully.
As you can be seen in the August 2020 photo above, the tree has a number of strong verticals and a lot of canopy, but clearly isn’t as robust as it needs to be. Have taken remedial action by tip-pruning to try to encourage branching to balance out the canopy & reduce height, and will continue to thin out as required.