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Plum Pollinators
Plums are one of the most vigorous, tolerant and easiest of stone fruits to grow in NZ, they'll reward you with prolific crops for very little effort.   Plant in a sunny spot, that has good drainage; water in well during warmer dry months. 

To ensure best possible yields from your Plum trees, pest and disease prevention, especially for young trees, is recommended.  In late autumn - spray with Copper Oxychloride (fungicide) then, at least 14 days later in early winter, spray with Conqueror Oil and Lime Sulphur (pest/disease control).   

There is an extensive range of Plums available with over 2,000 known varieties!  

The most important thing to know about Plum trees is that most require a pollinator i.e. another plum tree planted nearby that will help cross pollinate the blossom in order for fruit to be produced. Nearby does not necessarily have to be in your garden but the chances of a good crop are improved greatly if the bees don't have to fly too far to do their job.

There are 3 main species of Plum and their hybrids sold in New Zealand. They are:-
European (Prunus domestica)  Includes many heritage varieties which usually perform better in cooler climates where they can be completely dormant in winter. Fruit is often very aromatic and smaller than the Japanese Plum.
Japanese (Prunus salicina)  Vigorous, more tolerant of warmer climates, tend to have large fleshy fruit.
Cherry Plums (Prunus cerasifera) - These tend to fruit first in the season with smaller fruit.

The chart below is an easy guide to find the correct pollinator for your favourite Plum tree. Self-fertile Plums can be planted without a Pollinator but will have larger yields with a companion of the same species - options showing. 

Ripening Season (this is a guide only and is dependent on location and environmental factors) ... 
             Early = December-January, Mid = January-February, Late = February-March


Cultivar
Allen
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Great for desserts, bottling, jam and chutney 

Cultivar
Angelino
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Fortune, Black Amber
Comment
Fruit has red skin with sweet yellow flesh

Cultivar
Angelina Burdett
Type
European
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile, Greengage
Comment
Sweet flavour-some fruit, eat fresh or dessert

Cultivar
Billingtons Early
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile, Black Doris
Comment
A small meaty plum known as "Christmas Plum"

Cultivar
Black Amber
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Satsuma
Comment
Firm juicy large plum, black skin creamy flesh

Cultivar
Black Doris
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
partially Self-fertile improve with Elephant Heart, Santa Rosa,
Comment
Dark skin and flesh, sweet eating or preserving

Cultivar
Burbank
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self-fertile, Santa Rosa, Duffs Early Jewel
Comment
Large fruit, crops well

Cultivar
Coes Golden Drop
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Greengage, Reine Claude de Bavay
Comment
Large tasty golden fruit

Cultivar
Damson
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Heavy cropper, culinary plum, great for bottling and sauce

Cultivar
Duffs Early Jewel
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile, Santa Rosa
Comment
Delicious eating or preserving

Cultivar
Elephant Heart
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Sultan
Comment
Heart shaped large fruit, freestone 

Cultivar
Fortune
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Billington
Comment
Large sweet, golden flesh with bright red skin

Cultivar
Freedom
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Santa Rosa
Comment
Dark Red fruit, tree has upright habit

Cultivar
Greengage
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Coes Golden Drop
Comment
Great to eat, preserve or for desserts 

Cultivar
Hawera
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
NZ Plum, dark red large fruit

Cultivar
Luisa
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Golden flesh, excellent to eat straight from the tree

Cultivar
Mac Verna
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Billingtons, Wilsons Early
Comment
Sweet tasting, large red fruit

Cultivar
Omega George Wilson
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Duffs Early Jewel
Comment
High quality fruit, juicy red flesh

Cultivar
Pernel
Type
Cherry Plum
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Small plum, makes great tasty jam

Cultivar
Plumcot
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Duffs Early Jewel, Santa Rosa
Comment
Sweet eating with intense flavour 

Cultivar
Plumcot Spring Satin
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
partially Self-fertile Santa Rosa
Comment
Great eating, high yields

Cultivar
Purple King
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Duffs Early Jewel, Red Doris
Comment
Large purple fruit, yellow skin

Cultivar
Queen Rosa
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Satsuma
Comment
Large juicy, round fruit, eat straight from the tree

Cultivar
Red Beaut
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Billington
Comment
Medium fruit, juicy and sweet, good eating.

Cultivar
Red Doris
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Duffs Early Jewel, Santa Rosa
Comment
Generous yields, lovely flavour-some fruit

Cultivar
Reine Claude de Bavay
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Heritage  plum. Heavy reliable cropper, green fruit

Cultivar
Rose Zee
Type
European
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa
Comment
Handsome shaped tree, with sweet juicy fruit 

Cultivar
Santa Rosa
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Partially Self-fertile, Omega, Black Doris
Comment
Considered as best tasting plum! 

Cultivar
Satsuma
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Partially Self-fertile, Santa Rosa
Comment
Good all-rounder, sweet juicy plum

Cultivar
Sharps Early
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Delicious yellow flesh, skin red on yellow

Cultivar
Sultan
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Partially Self-fertile, Santa Rosa
Comment
Large oval shape, sweet flavour

Cultivar
Teak Gold
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late, slow maturing
Pollinator
Elephant Heart
Comment
Burgundy fruit, great eating

Cultivar
Victoria Sinclair
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Old English variety, reliable cropper, use for eating and jam 

Cultivar
Victory
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Prune Italian, Prune Stanley
Comment
High yielding with large, yellow fleshy fruit    

Cultivar
Wilsons Early
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Partially Self-fertile, Billington
Comment
Nice eating straight off the tree, preserving

Cultivar
Prune Plum Italian
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Heritage, freestone, eat, dry and bottle

Cultivar
Prune Plum Stanley
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Heavy cropper, sweet, juicy fruit, good for drying


HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: