Shropshire Prune damson
The definitive English damson, not the best cropping but perhaps the best flavour.
Shropshire Prune is the definitive northern English damson. Its origins are not known, and it seems probable that there is no single "Shropshire Prune" variety but several closely-related varieties that have been cultivated from wild seedlings in various parts of north-west England. Reflecting this diverse background the Shropshire Prune also has plenty of synonyms - including the Cheshire Damson, Westmoreland Damson, and Prune Damson. Shropshire Prune can be distinguished by the relatively small compact tree habit, and the fruit which is more elongated than many other damsons.
The centre of commercial damson production in the UK is the Lyth Valley in Cumbria and Shropshire Prune (or its close relations) is the most widely planted variety in this area.
Shropshire Prune is a hardy tree, although not has hardy as some other damson varieties. It is also not (at least by damson standards) a very heavy cropper. However it is generally considered to have the richest flavour of any damson and this is the main reason for preferring it, although in our experience some other damson varieties are just as good in practice.
Summary
- Species: Prunus insititia
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 126600
Identification
- Fruit colour: Blue-black
- Flesh colour: Green/Yellow
- Fruit size: Large
- Fruit shape: Long / oval
- Stone clinging?: Clinging
Using
- Good for cooking
- Flavour quality: Very good
- Flavour style: Sharper
- Ripening period: Mid season Early September
- Use / keeping: 1-3 days
Growing
- Cropping: Light
- Flowering period: Mid-Late season
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-fertile
- Vigour: Weak growing
- Gardening skill: Very easy
- Shade tolerant
- General disease resistance: Good
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
- Tolerates cold winters
- Suitable for NW. Scotland?: Yes
- Suitable for N. England?: Yes One of the best tree fruits for wet climates
Other qualities
- RHS Award of Garden Merit 1998 ('Prune Damson')
Disease resistance
- Silverleaf Chondrostereum purpureum - Very resistant
Fruit tree register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details here and contribute to our international register of fruit trees.
The following Shropshire Prune trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.
You can also view these trees on a map.
United Kingdom
- David Harmston in EWERBY THORPE, SLEAFORD, LINCS
- Graham Hinchliffe in EASTBOURNE, EAST SUSSEX
- Hugh Keep in STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, WARWICKSHIRE
- Nickkk in OLDHAM, LANCASHIRE
- Peter Barnard in DONCASTER, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Philip Wray in ANDOVER, HAMPSHIRE
Ireland
- Ute Bohnsack in KILFENORA, CLARE
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2012 season
- 15th April 2012 - tree owned by Nickkk in OLDHAM, United Kingdom
2011 season
- 15th April 2011 - tree owned by David in EWERBY THORPE, SLEAFORD, United Kingdom
- 5th April 2011 - tree owned by Hugh in STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 15th April 2010 - tree owned by Hugh in STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, United Kingdom
2009 season
- 19th April 2009 - tree owned by Hugh in STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Latest harvest records for this variety
2012 season
2011 season
- 4th week July 2011 - tree owned by Hugh in STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 2nd week August 2010 - tree owned by Hugh in STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, United Kingdom
2009 season
- 3rd week August 2009 - tree owned by Hugh in STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, United Kingdom
Mature heights for Shropshire Prune trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Shropshire Prune tree taking into account the vigor of the variety, the rootstock, and soil conditions.
| Rootstock | Soil quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Below average | Average | Above average | Very good | |
| Pixy | 4.0 ft 1.2 m |
5.0 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.5 ft 2.3 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
| St.Julien | 5.0 ft 1.5 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.5 ft 2.3 m |
9.4 ft 2.9 m |
11.3 ft 3.5 m |
| Brompton | 8.0 ft 2.5 m |
10.0 ft 3.1 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
15.0 ft 4.6 m |
18.0 ft 5.5 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Plum, gage, damson trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Shropshire Prune damson trees for sale:
-
Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK)
United Kingdom Supplier's website >>
Where to buy plums to eat
No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.
Rate this variety for flavor