Prunus

(Plum Tree) Domestica Opal

Prunus domestica Opal is an early plum that covers itself in clusters of white blossom in April, before the fresh green leaves are fully out. The fruit follows from late July, small to medium, red-purple with a blue bloom and with sweet yellow flesh that comes away from the stone. It is self-fertile, so a single tree will crop without a partner nearby. On a standard rootstock it settles at roughly 3-4 m tall and 2,5-3 m across, so allow one tree per 6-8 m2 or a container of at least 50 cm. The spring blossom is a valuable early source of nectar for bees. Give it a sunny, sheltered spot in the garden, against a warm wall or trained flat as a fan.

Plant it in full sun, as the fruit ripens poorly and tastes thin in shade. It wants deep, fertile soil that stays lightly moist but never waterlogged, so improve heavy clay with compost and coarse grit before planting. Water thoroughly in dry spells, especially while the fruit is swelling, and check a tree in a pot often because it dries out much faster than open ground. Prune only between June and August, taking out dead, crossing and crowded branches to keep the centre open, and never prune plums in winter because the wounds invite silver leaf and gumming. The tree is fully hardy, though a late frost during blossom can cost you that year's crop, so cover a young tree with fleece on clear cold nights in April.

Your order will be hand picked and packed in our strong and sustainable packaging as soon as possible, after which it will be delivered straight from our greenhouse to your door by your chosen carrier. You can follow the journey of your plants via the tracking link you receive in your mail. If you have any questions regarding your order and its shipment, you can get in contact with our support team.

We expect every order to arrive in tip-top shape. We take intensive care of the plants in our greenhouse and use special and as sustainable as possible protective packaging to ship our plants. We also wrote an extensive blog about how to unpack and prepare your plants for growth after shipping. However there are rare occasions where our plants don’t meet their full potential. That’s why all plants are guaranteed for 30 days after arrival, if still in its original nursery pot.