A small, vigorous, rugged, erect growing plum tree. White flowers are borne in umbrel-like clusters of 2-3 on short spurs, and solitary or 2-3 in axils on one year old wood. The later spring bloom time of the flowers makes them less frost prone. The foliage is dark green.

What is the difference between a damson and a plum?

Let's start with the basics: first and foremost, plums tend to be predominantly round, whereas damsons are characterised by an oblong-oval shape. But an even more obvious differentiating feature is that plums have a pronounced, grooved longitudinal seam, whereas the same seam on damsons is far more difficult to see.

Can you eat damson plums fresh?

You technically can eat a Damson plum straight from the tree, but Damson Plums are not recommended for fresh eating. Oftentimes Damson Plums have a sweet and sour flavor and can not be the most pleasant plum to eat straight from the tree. Damson plums are best when used in baking or combined to create a jam or jelly.

What are damson plums good for?

The most important health benefits of damson plums include their ability to improve the digestive system, lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease, strengthen bones, increase energy, optimize sleeping patterns, decrease your risk of certain types of cancer, and boost the immune system.

Can you eat damsons straight from the tree?

It is technically possible to enjoy damsons straight off the tree, but only if you've found the right variety growing in a sunny spot so they're burstingly ripe – and that's a state that the local bird and wasp populations are unlikely to consent to.

Damson plum tree - grow, care & harvest

19 related questions found

Are Damson plums sweet?

Blue Damson plums are edible when fresh, but the fruits have a sweet-tart, bitter flavor that is often considered unpalatable when raw.

What does damson fruit look like?

The fruit of the damson can also be identified by its shape, which is usually ovoid and slightly pointed at one end, or pyriform; its smooth-textured yellow-green flesh; and its skin, which ranges from dark blue to indigo to near-black depending on the variety (other types of Prunus domestica can have purple, yellow or ...

What do damson plums look like?

What do Damson plums look like? The small clingstone prunes are dark purple-black with firm green or golden yellow flesh. The trees display an attractive, rounded shape. The ovoid green leaves are finely toothed along the edges.

How long does it take for a damson tree to fruit?

Damsons are not difficult to grow. They will come true from a stone and will produce fruit within 15 years. Alternatively, you can buy a tree grafted on to a rootstock that will control the amount of growth.

How do you identify a damson tree?

Damson

1. Leaves. Dark green, shiny and oval shaped with a serrated edge.
2. Flowers. Clusters of small, white flowers with five petals.
3. Fruit. A dark blue/black fruit with a thin white bloom.
4. Bark. The trunk is usually fairly thin the bark is often covered in scars, moss and lichen.
5. Habitat. ...
6. Possible Confusion. ...
7. Taste. ...
8. Frequency.

Are damsons poisonous to dogs?

Although fine in your fruit bowl, peaches, plums and damsons contain stones that can cause your dog lots of discomfort. Ingesting these stones can result in intestinal obstruction and enteritis – inflammation of the small intestine.

Are damsons good for you?

Damson Plums

They're high in fiber, with 1/2 cup (82 grams) packing an impressive 6 grams of this nutrient (15). As a result, eating more prunes may increase stool frequency and soften your stools, making your bowel movements easier to pass (40Trusted Source, 41Trusted Source).

Where should I plant a damson tree?

Plant. Damsons have quite high moisture demands, so they are best planted on good clay or loamy soils. But sites also need to be well drained as plums, and gages in particular, hate waterlogged soils.

How big does a damson tree grow?

Expect your damson to grow to around 10-15 feet (3-4.5m). Shropshire Prune (also known as Prune Damson) is one to choose for neat, compact growth, or you could look for a tree grown on Pixy rootstock to restrict growth to 8-10 feet (2.4-3m). Damsons are self-fertile, so you don't need to plant more than one.

Do damson trees produce fruit every year?

It flowers well and the tree looks fine each year; however, no fruit ever appears. Following the flowering, the tree looks a bit sad and the leaves curl in places but no sign of pests. My other plum trees in the garden (different types) do well for fruit each year. Douglas.

Are damsons easy to grow?

Damson trees grow up to 15ft high and are easy to maintain, being relatively tolerant to most things! They don't particularly like pure peat or pure clay soil though. The best time to plant your newly purchased damson tree is between December and March.

Do damson trees have thorns?

Sloe bushes have sharp thorns and wild damson trees do not. Damsons have longer stems so hang and look more like a tiny plum.

Are damsons poisonous?

ONE BUSH HAS THORNS THE OTHER DOESN T. THE LEAVES ARE VERY SIMILAR ,AS IS THE FRUIT. IT IS POISONOUS.

Are damson stones poisonous?

If you do anything with them, you don't want damp ones going green and mouldy! Damson stones contain the cyagenic glycoside amygdaline, a toxin that can lead to cyanide poisoning if taken in quantity (how much?) – don't eat lots of damson stones, and don't get any Walter White 'crystal damson' lab ideas!

Which is the best damson tree?

Merryweather – Probably one of the most widely grown of all damson varieties, being easy to grow, and producing good crops of classic damson-flavoured fruit and of plum size.

What size are damson plums?

Mature Size

The standard Damson plum grows to a height of around 20' and a spread of around 20' at maturity. The dwarf variety grows to a height of around 10' with a spread of up to 10'.

How do you know when damson plums are ripe?

For instance, plums varietals such as 'Stanley', 'Damson', and 'Mount Royal' change from green to greenish-blue then segue to dark blue or purple when they are ripe. Other plum cultivars are ripe when the skin color changes from yellow to red.

How much space does a Damson tree need?

As Damsons are quite hardy they can tolerate any aspect, even a North or East wall that isn't much use for other fruit trees. You will need a space of 200cm's high and wide to accommodate the tree and make sure the soil isn't too dry as sometimes it can be against a wall.

When should I plant a Damson tree?

When to plant damsons

Damson trees often come "bare-rooted" which means that there is no soil around the roots. Plant them from late autumn to early winter as trees generally shut down and become dormant in winter. So this is the best time for them to be planted as it means that their growth is not interrupted.