Czar is a large dark black/purple early-season plum, with good astringency and useful for culinary purposes. It can also be eaten fresh if you leave it to get fully ripe. The blossom is a notable characteristic, being unusually large for a plum.
The Victorian fruit enthusiast and author Robert Hogg was sent some samples in August 1874 by the growers, Rivers of Sawbridgeworth. This was the year of its first fruiting. Hogg subsequently rated it as an "excellent plum". Rivers named it Czar in honour of the Czar of Russia, who visited England that year.
Czar soon become a popular garden plum in English gardens, being easy and reliable to grow (thanks in part to blossom which has some frost resistance), and producing good crops. Although the flavour is not necessarily the best, it is one of the earliest culinary plums in the season. The tree can also grow in partial shade and is hardy enough to tolerate north-facing situations.
Czar plum identification images
All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.
USDA identification images for Czar
The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.
Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Visitor reviews
- 13 Aug 2024Makes a cracking plum crumble use them slightly under ripe mmmmmmm!
- 19 Jun 2018 CHESHIRE, United KingdomVery prolific cropping plum. Easily maintainable tree with self fertile habit and good disease resistance. Flavour of fruit is good when plums are allowed to ripen properly but they do not keep well in my experience. Good dehydrated for storage and makes nice jams and chutneys. The wine made from this variety was ok but loses taste so is best blended.
Tree register
United Kingdom
- Alex in Scourie, SUTHERLAND
- Andy in Surrey, LONDON
- Angela Rouse in London, GREATER LONDON
- Anja Britton in NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
- Anne Lambert in Ballycastle, CO.ANTRIM
- Anne Lambert in Ballycastle, CO.ANTRIM
- Annette Hurt in Filby, NORFOLK
- Anthony Payne in Bath,
- Billy Auger in Hopton Wafers, SHROPSHIRE
- Brian Sharp in Burrelton, PERTHSHIRE
- Clifford Cain in Doncaster, SOUTH YORKSHIRE
- David Watts in GASTARD, WILTSHIRE
- Diane in Chudleigh, DEVON
- Henryc in Andover, HAMPSHIRE
- Ian R Thorn in Chislehurst, KENT
- Jason Gunter in Bridgend,
- Jenny in Llanfairfechan, CONWY
- Jonathan Gubb in Uffculme, DEVON
- Michael Adams in Halifax, WEST YORKSHIRE
- Michelle in Morpeth, NORTHUMBERLAND
- Michelle Phalp in Bournemouth, DORSET
- Mike Wicken in Camberley, COUNTY (OPTIONAL)
- Mohammad in NEWCASTLE, TYNE AND WEAR
- Nickkk in Oldham, LANCASHIRE
- Nigel in Ryton Dorrington Shrewsbury, SHROPSHIRE
- Peter Revell in Hemel Hempstead, HERTS
- Peter Tyler in Eye, SUFFOLK
- Philip Wray in Andover, HAMPSHIRE
- Rb in WIMBORNE, DORSET
- Rhiannon Harrington in Reading, BERKSHIRE
- Sarah Broadbent in Dalgety Bay, FIFE
- Sedgie in SALTBURN BY THE SEA, NORTH YORKSHIRE
- Stuart Logan in Newbury, BERKSHIRE
- Tamas Geleta in UCKFIELD,
- Toosie in Cambridge, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
- Yvonne Wilson in Marks Tey, ESSEX
Ireland
- James A Nolan in Glynn, WEXFORD
- Ute Bohnsack in Kilfenora, CLARE
Japan
- Caleb Fuller in Yoshitomi-Machi, FUKUOKA
Spring blossom records for this variety
2020 season
- 16th April 2020 - tree owned by James in Glynn, Ireland
2012 season
- 21st April 2012 - tree owned by Nickkk in Oldham, United Kingdom
- 13th April 2012 - tree owned by Peter in Eye, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Harvest records for this variety
Origins
- Species: Prunus domestica - European plum
- Parentage: Prince Englebert fertilised by Rivers' Early Prolific
- Originates from: United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1874
- Developed by: Rivers of Sawbridgeworth
Identification
- Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Period of origin: 1850 - 1899
- Fruit colour: Blue - dark
- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Popularity: Best sellers
- Annual cycle: Deciduous
Using
- Picking season: Mid Early August
- Keeping (of fruit): 1 week
- Flavour quality: Average
- Cropping: Heavy
- Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
- Food uses: Culinary
- Food uses: Dual purpose
- Picking period: late July
- Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
Growing
- Gardening skill: Beginner
- Flowering group: 3
- Pollinating others: Average
- Vigour: Average vigour
- Bearing regularity: Regular
- Organic culture: Suitable
- Attractive features: Attractive fruit
- Attractive features: Attractive tree / plant
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Sunlight: Tolerates shade
- Sunlight: Prefers full sun
Climate
- Frost resistance of blossom: Good resistance
- Climate suitability: Temperate climates
- Climate suitability: Mild damp climates
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
- Cold hardiness (RHS): H6 (to -20C)
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cold (< 20C / 67F)
- Climate - UK region: Southern England, Midlands, Eastern England
- Climate - UK region: Northern England, East Scotland, North-East Scotland
- Climate - UK region: Devon, Cornwall, Wales, Cumbria, South-West Scotland
- Climate - UK region: Moorland, areas above 300m / 1000ft
Other qualities
- Disease resistance: Good
- Brown rot: Some resistance
- Silverleaf: Some susceptibility
Where to buy trees
The following tree nurseries offer Czar plum trees for sale:
- Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK) United Kingdom
Czar plum trees
Where to buy fresh fruit
The following orchards grow Czar:
United Kingdom
England - midlands
- Walsgrove Farm, Worcester
England - south-east
- Home Cottage Farm, Iver
- Holton Orchards, Halesworth
England - south-west
- A'Beckett's, Devizes
References
- Fruit Expert
Author: Hessayon