Botanical name
Prunus insititia
Other names
Damson, Bullace, Mirabelle, Wintercrack, Damson plum, Prunus domestica subsp. insititia
Genus
Prunus
Species
P. insititia – P. insititia is an upright, rounded to spreading, deciduous tree with oval, glossy, finely-toothed, dark green leaves and white flowers in spring followed by edible, dark purple fruit with yellow-green flush, typically ready for harvest in late summer or early autumn.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Rounded, Spreading, Upright
Flower
White in Spring
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
HOW TO CARE
Watch out for
Specific pests
Aphids , Brown scale , Bullfinches , Caterpillars , Fruit tree red spider mite , Leaf mining moths , Plum leaf-curling aphid
Specific diseases
Silver leaf
General care
Pruning
Regular pruning required according to tree form.
Propagation methods
Softwood cuttings, Budding, Grafting
WHERE TO GROW
Prunus insititia (Damson) will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Low Maintenance, Specimen tree
Cultivation
Grown in moist, neutral pH, free-draining, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Irrigate in dry periods. Keep a weed-free area of at least 60cm around the trunk.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
