Prunus domestica Mount Royal (European Plum)

Extremely cold hardy, Prunus domestica 'Mount Royal' (European Plum) is a small European plum tree with a spreading canopy clothed in elliptic, finely serrated, bright green leaves. In mid-spring, it bursts into a profusion of sweetly fragrant, white 5-petaled blossoms, creating a spectacular display. They are followed in late summer or early fall by a heavy crop of medium-sized, freestone, dark blue plums with a greenish-yellow flesh. Juicy, sweet, and delicious, the plums have a rich flavor and are perfect for eating right off the tree, canning, or making jelly. This European plum tree is self-fertile but yields more heavily when pollinated with another cultivar. A lovely plum tree in blossom, in leaf, and especially in fruit when the heavy plums hang from delicate branches.

• Typically grows up to 15-20 ft. tall and wide (4-6 m) at maturity. The dwarf variety grows up to 8-10 ft. tall and wide (2-3 m).
• Performs best in full sun in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils.
• Train your plum tree when young to an open-center shape to make sure all branches will always be bathed in light and air.
• Plums require minimal pruning which should be done after flowering when the tree is still leafless. In maturity, prune mostly to let light into the center of the tree and to encourage a moderate amount of new growth for the following year’s fruit. About 20% of the new growth each year is removed to rejuvenate the tree and control its spread.
• Propagate by chip budding or grafting onto a rootstock for fruit. The rootstock will largely determine the vigor of the tree.
• Keep an eye out for plum aphids, caterpillars, fruit tree red spider mites, brown scales, plum moths, bullfinches, silver leaf, bacterial canker, and brown rot.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.