Towards the end of the 19th century nurseryman Thomas Rivers experimented with a French gage variety called Reine Claude Diaphane, a true gage with an unusually transparent ("diaphanous") skin - known in England as Transparent Gage. The most well-known result of this work was his Early Transparent Gage, but Golden Transparent has also been quietly popular amongst gardeners, and is believed to be the result of an open pollinated Transparent Gage.
Golden Transparent is a self-fertile variety - like Early Transparent but unlike its parent. The tree is notably small and compact (a common characteristic of gages and a useful distinguishing point with European plums). By gage standards it is a good cropper, but it can be temperamental.
The fruit is an attractive yellow colour with red dots, larger than a green gage.
Although considered one of the "transparent" gages, in our experience it does not have the true transparency of flesh found in some of its cousins. But no matter - the flavour is excellent, with a juicy thick sugary richness - this is a textbook gage.
Golden Transparent gage identification images
All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.
USDA identification images for Golden Transparent
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.
Siblings of this variety (same parentage)
Visitor reviews
- 05 Jun 2022Can occasional Black Knot prevent my 2016 tree from producing fruit? It gives blossoms and although self fruitful, I additionally hand pollinate it from another nearby Gage Plum.
- 11 Oct 2013 United StatesRipens almost simultaneously with the transparent gage, a large round sweet gage that is heaven on a sunny September morning.
- 25 Aug 2012 WEST SUSSEX, United KingdomI am growing this gage as a fan against a sunny fence. Although it flowers well, and has a near-by pollinator, it sets few fruit for me. The fruits are, however, exceptional - syrup sweet, aromatic, rich and juicy. I hope that my young (5 years old) tree will improve its yeild with time! You can see photos of the trained tree on my blog: http://herbidacious.wordpress.com/2012/08/25/golden-transparent-gage/
Tree register
United States
- Donald Blume in West Hartford, CONNECTICUT
United Kingdom
- Claire Doble in Leeds,
- John Leitch in Ayr, AYRSHIRE
- Mark Davies in Saddleworth, YORKSHIRE
- Paul Mckean in Southport, MERSEYSIDE
- Richard Borrie in York, YORKSHIRE
Spring blossom records for this variety
2023 season
- 5th April 2023 - tree owned by Claire in Leeds, United Kingdom
2022 season
- 4th April 2022 - tree owned by Paul in Southport, United Kingdom
2016 season
- 19th April 2016 - tree owned by Donald in West Hartford, United States
- 8th April 2016 - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
2014 season
- 7th May 2014 - tree owned by John in Ayr, United Kingdom
- 10th April 2014 - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
2013 season
- 2nd May 2013 - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
2012 season
- 27th March 2012 - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
2011 season
- 10th April 2011 - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 19th April 2010 - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Harvest records for this variety
2016 season
- 1st week September 2016 - tree owned by Donald in West Hartford, United States
Origins
- Species: Prunus domestica - European plum
- Parentage: Transparent Gage seedling
- Originates from: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1890
- Developed by: Thomas Rivers of Sawbridgeworth
Identification
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Period of origin: 1850 - 1899
- Fruit colour: Gold
- Fruit colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Green / Yellow
- Fruit colour: Yellow
- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Annual cycle: Deciduous
- Flowering duration: Average (2-3 weeks)
- Flower form: Single flower (5-8 petals)
- Flesh colour: Golden / Yellow
- Fruit size: Average
- Awards: RHS 1st class
- Fruit shape: Round
- Developer: Thomas Rivers Nursery
Using
- Cling-stone: Semi-freestone
- Picking season: Late
- Keeping (of fruit): 1-3 days
- Flavour quality: Very good
- Cropping: Heavy
- Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
- Food uses: Eating fresh
- Picking month: September
- Picking period: early September
Growing
- Gardening skill: Average
- Flowering group: 3
- Pollinating others: Average
- Vigour: Weak growing
- Bearing regularity: Regular
- Attractive features: Attractive fruit
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Site conditions: Sheltered site
- Sunlight: Prefers full sun
Climate
- Climate suitability: Temperate climates
- Climate suitability: Warm climates
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
Other qualities
- Disease resistance: Good
Where to buy fresh fruit
No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.