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Shropshire Prune damson trees

Pick: Mid-season    Flowering group: 3   Self-fertile    Uses: Cookery    Disease-resistance: Good
RHS AGM for Shropshire Prune
Shropshire Prune damson tree

Shropshire Prune is the definitive northern English damson, with a distinctive astringent richness which makes it a versatile fruit for culinary purposes.

The centre of commercial damson production in the UK is Lyth Valley in Cumbria. Shropshire Prune (or its close relations) is the most widely planted variety in this area. Unlke almost all other fruit trees, damsons, particularly Shropshire Prune, actually like a damp climate - so if you live in the north or west of the UK, Shropshire Prune is worth considering.

Order now for delivery September 2013 onwards

Shropshire Prune damson trees for sale

Mature height*Supplied asPrice**
inc. delivery		Quantity
required

Pot-grown fruit trees (Delivery start September 2013)

Medium (2.5m - 3m)2-year bush-trained - 12L pot - Pixy rootstock £39.00
Large (3m - 3.5m)2-year bush-trained - 12L pot - St.Julien rootstock £38.00
Large (3m - 3.5m)Half-standard premium - 12L pot - St.Julien rootstock £45.00

Bare-root fruit trees (Deliveries start November 2013)

Medium (2.5m - 3m)1-year - Bare-root - Pixy rootstock £31.00
Medium (2.5m - 3m)2-year bush-trained - Bare-root - Pixy rootstock £34.00
Large (3m - 3.5m)1-year - Bare-root - St.Julien rootstock £31.00
Large (3m - 3.5m)2-year bush-trained - Bare-root - St.Julien rootstock £35.00
Large (3m - 3.5m)Half-standard - Bare-root - St.Julien rootstock £36.00
Full size (4.5m+)Half-standard - Bare-root - Brompton rootstock £36.00
Full size (4.5m+)Standard 1.75m - Bare-root - Brompton rootstock £37.00

Trained fruit trees - pot-grown (Delivery start September 2013)

Price excludes delivery and delivery restrictions may apply
Large (3m - 3.5m)Fan 4-arm -12L pot - St.Julien rootstock £60.95 Sold out
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**All prices include delivery (except certain fan-trained or espalier-trained or mature trees). We offer a discount on orders of multiple bare-root trees for delivery at the same time - this will be shown at the checkout.

2-year pot-grown Fan-trained and Espalier trees: Prices of these trees do NOT include delivery as they require special delivery arrangements. Delivery is not possible to all areas. Click here for details or contact us to find out more. These restrictions do not apply to our 1-year part-trained trees or cordons.

Delivery period: Pot-grown trees can be delivered from September onwards. Bare-root trees can be delivered from mid-November onwards. Within those periods you can specify your preferred month of delivery during the checkout process. It is best to order as soon as you can to ensure items are reserved for you.

*Mature heights: Height shown is the approximate height of the tree when mature (after 5-10 years), not the height when supplied. See photos of trees as supplied. Actual mature heights may vary considerably dependent on your local conditions and training and pruning regime - see our Tree Height Calculator.

Fruit tree guarantee

Stock availability: Items showing as 'sold out' will probably be available again next season. Click here to be notified when we get more trees of this variety.



Summary features of Shropshire Prune

Growing

Uses

Identification

  • Country of origin: United Kingdom
  • Period of origin: 1800 - 1849
  • Fruit colour: Blue - dark
  • Blossom colour: White
  • Leaf colour: Green
  • Popular variety

Climate



Pollination guide for Shropshire Prune

Shropshire Prune is in flowering group 3. Shropshire Prune is self-fertile and does not need a pollination partner, although fruiting may be improved if there is a compatible tree of a different variety nearby. Since it flowers in the middle of the blossom season it can be pollinated by most other damson trees.



How to grow Shropshire Prune damson trees

Shropshire Prune produces a typical damson tree - fairly small but upright, with densely packed branches. Indeed for this reason it can be used as a productive hedge. The tree is self-fertile, although cropping will be improved if there is another tree nearby.

Like all damsons, Shropshire Prune is very easy to grow, but produces lighter crops than Merryweather. The main factor affecting the crop is the weather in April when the tree is in blossom. Rain, wind, or frost at this time can reduce yields - not necessarily through damaging the blossom, but by discouraging insects and preventing pollination. Apart from that there is nothing much to worry about. Pruning is unnecessary (except to remove damaged branches - if so, this should be done only in summer).

For more information about growing and caring for damson trees, particularly Shropshire Prune, see the Westmorland Damson Association website.



Varieties with similar picking times to Shropshire Prune

<== Pick slightly earlierAbout the same timePick slightly later ==>
King of the Damsons
Merryweather

Farleigh



Historical details

UK, unknown origins.



Botanical name

Prunus insititia Shropshire Prune



Related variety collections

Small orchard selection, Fruit trees for North West Scotland, Fruit trees for a north-facing wall


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